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They are used to strenuous physical regimes, but South Africa’s sports heroes are taking on an exercise of a different kind. This time, they are walking for those who live with HIV/Aids.
RESIDENTS of Johannesburg are invited to join South Africa’s sporting heroes for the first 10km of their Walk Against Aids campaign on Monday, 17 November.
Banyana Banyana player Janine van Wyk on the road
The walk will start at Maponya Mall in Soweto.
World boxing champions Baby Jake Matlala and Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, marathon runner Willie Mtolo, former Springbok wing Khaya Malotana, former Banyana Banyana captain Desree Ellis and fellow footballers Veronica Phewa and Janine van Wyk, karate champion Artulu Ballosini, cricketer Daleen Terblanche, and SABC sports presenter Cynthia Tshaka will make up the team to walk all the way to Kimberly in the Northern Cape.
The Sport Heroes Walk Against Aids campaign was initiated in 2002 by Tshaka. It is a non-profit organisation of sports players who want to get involved in the fight against HIV/Aids.
“The main objective of this campaign is to use sport as a tool to change people’s lives and to raise funds to support those who are infected and affected,” says Tshaka.
To date the project has raised a total of R5-million which has been divided between various hospices in the country, she adds. Funds are raised throughout the year from corporate South Africa and Sport South Africa.
Tshaka says the heroes will walk to all nine provinces and encourage the youth to engage in sports, by holding sporting clinics of different sporting codes.
“During these activities, mobile testing stations are available for those who are willing to be tested.
“We also identify needy Aids hospices or homes with the help of local government and supply them with the necessary tools and equipment they need to fight the epidemic. They do not receive assistance in the form of money but we purchase what they need on their behalf.”
The Joburg leg
Johannesburg hospices to have benefited include the Soweto Hospice and Takalani Home.
The City will with the Johannesburg leg of the walk, providing 40 marshals and some watering points along the 10km walk, according to the deputy director of relations management in the City’s sports and recreation division.
Motorists are being urged to lookout for the walkers and be patient on the roads. Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s Wayne Minnaar says motorists should comply with the requests of the marshals on duty.
The walk is on Monday, 17 November and will start at 7am from Maponya Mall.
Joburgers will end their walk at the corner of Union Street at the N12, saying farewell to the sports heroes as they continue on their journey.
The Sport Heroes Walk Against Aids campaign will run until Monday, 1 December – World Aids Day. The sporting heroes will visit 15 towns in the Northern Cape and will walk at least 10km a day to reach a particular town.
In addition to the walk, the organisation is hosting a fundraising dinner on Thursday, 6 November at Gallagher Estate. Tables, each seating 10 diners, are available at R20 000. Bookings can be made with Cynthia Tshaka on 011 476 9475, or via email at
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For people wanting to make a contribution, donations can be made to Standard Bank, account number 003275450, branch code 006305.
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