Iconic city marathon asks participants to RunGreen 

Cape Town, 06 June 2017 – The annual Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is more than just a race. As Africa’s must-run iconic city marathon and a certified carbon-neutral event, it encourages all participants to get involved in its Run4Change legacy programme by taking the pledge to ‘RunGreen’.

This weekend festival of running, which takes place between 14 and 17 September this year, earned Gold Label Recognition from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) earlier in 2017. This year, in the run-up to the marathon, organisers are raising awareness for World Environment Day which happened on 5 June by asking everyone involved in the four-day event to join its RunGreen campaign.

By taking up the RunGreen pledge, participants have the opportunity to play an active role in environmental initiatives. The RunGreen campaign encourages runners not to litter, to respect the environment by running for nature, to measure and offset their carbon footprint, and to support broader carbon-neutral projects. 

RunGreen is part of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s Run4Change legacy programme, which aims to make a significant and positive impact on society through a dedicated focus on five key pillars: health and wellness; fundraising and charities; peace and sport; sustainable events; and the development and empowerment of South African athletes.

With assistance from the Climate Neutral Group, a recognised provider of carbon management and offsetting services, the marathon strives to facilitate a positive environmental impact in South Africa. To this end, it supports the Greenpop Urban Greening and Reforestation programme, the Wonderbag Project, the Joburg Waste to Energy programme, and the Basa Magogo Project.

Elana van Zyl - Meyer, ambassador for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, says, “All runners can support the ‘sustainable events’ initiative by taking the pledge to RunGreen, and help unite our country in looking after our beautiful city, country and planet.” Participants can support this cause via our recognised charities, at all activations or at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Expo at the charity and partner stands. A minimum fee of R50 paid prior to the event gives participants Run4Change socks to be worn during their race and a pledge sticker. The sticker can be affixed to the ‘pledge wall’ at the expo, together with a message to RunGreen.

With participants from over 60 countries winging their way to South Africa for the event, supporting GreenPop, which plants trees across South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania, is the perfect way to offset their carbon footprint. Since its establishment in 2010, GreenPop has planted over 79 000 indigenous and fruit trees, providing daily benefits to 350 000 people. You are able to estimate your carbon impact with a custom made application brought to you by Sanlam. Click on this link: http://greenup.herokuapp.com/events/9/users/new

This marathon has also established ‘chuck zones’ along the route for the disposal of litter and to prevent runners from throwing empty water sachets on the street. Runners are encouraged to carry their own water where possible, in a hydration pack or water-bottle belt.

Sanlam Cape Town Marathon race director Janet Welham says that supporting any or all of these initiatives, however small, makes a huge impact on the environment as whole.

Many road races across the globe are finding creative ways to become climate neutral. The Austin Marathon in Texas uses solar generators and recycles over 6 000kg of waste, while Nature’s Path Whidbey Island Marathon in Washington awards medallions made of recycled glass and all goodie bags are made from 100% recycled paper.

The races on the cards for this year's action-packed road running spectacle include the 12km and 22km Sanlam Cape Town Peace Trail Runs, the Sanlam Cape Town 10km Peace Run, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 42.2km race, and the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Peace Fun Run.

Africa is my home, this is my race. It's Cape Town, must run it!

• Must explore it
• Must experience it
• Must discover it
• Must feel it

Entries for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon are open. To find out more, go to www.sanlamcapetownmarathon.com

Africa is my home, this is my race. It's Cape Town, must run it!

For media enquiries please contact

CRAIG DUMMETT
PR for Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
021-418-2466
082-072-4103
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About the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon:
Awarded IAAF Gold Label status earlier this year, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is an exhilarating festival of running that brings together runners, elite athletes, social joggers and surrounding communities to enjoy a Spring weekend of running through Africa’s spectacularly beautiful Mother City.

The classic Olympian 42.2km marathon takes centre stage on the Sunday, which follows a 10km Peace Run in the morning, and two Peace Trail Runs (22km and 12km) and a 4.2km Fun Run/ Walk on the Saturday.As Africa’s “must run” iconic city marathon, it aims to facilitate and leverage change at a national level through its Run4Change Legacy Programme, comprising five pillars:

• To focus on HEALTH and WELLNESS
• To become one of the biggest FUNDRAISING sporting events in South Africa
• To promote PEACE and SPORT
• To be a SUSTAINABLE event
• To DEVELOP and EMPOWER South African Athletes

Managed by a joint partnership through Western Province Athletics (WPA), ASEM Running and the City of Cape Town, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, to be held in September, is endorsed by Elana Meyer and Francois Pienaar.

The four-day festival starts with the AIMS Africa Conference and the opening day of the Expo on September 14, and will come to a close with the road running contests over various distances on September 17.

It offers a competitive yet beautiful route, providing runners with a unique experience that highlights the city’s natural splendour and top cultural attractions. The field is inclusive of the world’s elite athletes, club and non-club runners, casual joggers, social runners and walkers. Athletes and spectators can enjoy Cape Town’s unique festive atmosphere at safe, fun supporter zones along the route, and at the finish at Green Point A Track.

Sanlam Cape Town Marathon website
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Twitter and Instagram: @CTMarathon and ctmarathon

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About the Sanlam Group

Sanlam is a leading financial services group listed on the Johannesburg and Namibian Stock Exchanges. Established in 1918 as a life insurance company, the South Africa-based Sanlam Group has transformed into a diversified Pan-African financial services business.

Through its business clusters – Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investments, Santam and the newly established Sanlam Corporate - the Group provides comprehensive and tailored financial solutions to individual and institutional clients across all market segments. The Group’s areas of expertise include insurance (life and general), financial planning, retirement, investments and wealth.

The Group has a direct stake in operations based in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Mauritius, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Malaysia and the United Kingdom and has business interests in the USA, Australia, Burundi, Lesotho and the Philippines. Through a strategic stake in the Saham Finances Group, it has exposure to insurance operations in Morocco, Angola, Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. For further information, visit www.sanlam.com or follow us @sanlam.