Words & Photo: Danielle Mascher
Today we officially launch the Unogwaja Challenge 2014 Charity Campaign as a group of 26 people representing 8 different nationalities including South Africans from all over the country, set off to raise R1million for the official Comrades charities known as the Amabeadibeadi Charities.
It gives us great pleasure to announce that we will be working with South African startup, Quicket, who have partnered with us through the provision of their outstanding online ticketing and fundraising platform that allows people to make donations quickly, simply and transparently from anywhere in the world. James Tagg, of Quicket South Africa, "We are very excited to be part of this awe-inspiring and proudly South African event and are glad that what we do can help them along the way."
It is going to require a superhuman effort to reach R1 million but ever since this incredible journey began back in 2011 it has continually involved defying the odds and popular belief. Back in 2011, just 5 months before the first ever Unogwaja, John McInroy, founder of the Unogwaja Challenge Organisation recalls not even owning a bike and needing to qualify for Comrades. "There were far more reasons why it couldn't be done than it could. Much like it would have been for Phil Masterton-Smith back in 1933. Imagine for a moment, the road conditions, the bike he would have ridden and the mentality at the time in a world gripped by war and recession. He did it, he followed his heart and that is why his legacy shall live on forever. We can do it too, somehow! Only with a lot of help from all over!"
It is true, this event is epitomised by people who make it happen and people who want to help. And it really would not be possible without each one of these contributions.
Here is the official charity platform for Unogwaja Challenge 2014. We are already one tenth of the way there with today the total sitting on R114,233. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and will support us.
http://www.quicket.co.za/events/3175-unogwaja-challenge/
As you know each Unogwaja participant has committed to raising a minimum of R40,000, and this is our first objective. Each one of them will represent one of the six Amabeadibeadi charities as we work together to make this dream a reality.
These charities are:
Community Chest
Pink Drive
Starfish Greathearts Foundation
The Sports Trust
Wildlands
World Vision
