The Totalsports Women’s Day race is renowned for bringing together hordes of athletes from all levels of society, and this year’s showpiece on Tuesday, 9 August will be no exception, with over 20 000 participants expected to take to the tarmac across three metros in three provinces.
The race will be hosted simultaneously in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban as scores of women unite to take on either the 5km or 10km road run (or walk) in support of PinkDrive, a non-profit company (NPC) committed to improving breast cancer awareness, education, and providing free services to the medically uninsured across the country.
Participants in Johannesburg will run or walk alongside the Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, who will be among the thousands of entrants #PaintingTheCityPink while enjoying an entertaining route with exciting refreshment points and a live performance by award-winning songbird, Simmy, once they are through with the race.
“We are thrilled to be hosting South Africa’s largest Women’s Day Celebration,” says Michael Meyer, the Managing Director of Stillwater Sports, the race organisers.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, it has been two years since the last Totalsports Women’s Day race was hosted.
“We have a lot to celebrate and can’t wait to get the festivities started with thousands of women across three cities,” Meyer adds.
Among some of the elite entrants in the race this year are Glenrose Xaba, Lebo Phalula, Lebogang Phalula, and Cacisile Sosibo, who all cannot wait to run for a worthy cause.
The 2022 Totalsports Women’s Day race, which carries a combined prize purse of R155 550, is hosted in support of PinkDrive.
On race day, PinkDrive will offer free clinical breast examinations and educate women on the importance of self-breast exams. The initiative is dear to Mayor Phalatse’s heart, who earlier this year commemorated World Cancer Day alongside PinkDrive at the Baragwanath Taxi Rank in Diepkloof, Soweto.
Cllr Ronald Harris, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Development, says women make up a significant percentage of the population of Johannesburg.
“It is therefore important for the City to recognise this not only from the point of view of being mothers and daughters, and others but also the fact that women are a vital component of any society.”
Cllr Harris says the City is delighted to support any event where women are affirmed and their equality with men is acknowledged.
“This race is a fantastic opportunity for women to come in their numbers to showcase themselves and their commitment to standing up for equality and their space within society,” the MMC says.
He notes that the Totalsports Women’s Day race adds to the colour and vibrancy of Johannesburg.
“I trust that this race is going to deal another blow to the scourge of gender-based violence and the subconscious of men who undermine women. This race is one platform to bring change to existing perceptions,” Cllr Harris adds.
The Totalsports Women’s Day race takes place on Tuesday, 9 August, starting and finishing at the Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia. Visit www.totalsportswomensrace.co.za for more information.
Written by Sascha-Lee Joseph
05/08/2022