Students, faculty members and even Stellenbosch University (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wim de Villiers “moved for food” this weekend at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
The SU #Move4Food campaign aims to raise R10 million in 100 days, in an attempt to ease the burden of student hunger on campus. With exactly two months to go until “giving day” on 27 November, the halfway mark to the 100 day deadline is approaching. The campaign has reached its first million-rand-milestone, but efforts will need to be kept up in order to reach the target.
The Cape Town Marathon provided an opportunity for SU affiliates to #Move4Food and make a difference by raising funds.
PHOTO: SU Rector Professor Wim de Villiers completed the Sanlam Cape Town marathon in just over four hours over the weekend. PHOTO: Anna Duurheim
SU students, staff and alumni participated in various ways at the Sanlam Cape Town marathon over the weekend, all in support of the #Move4Food campaign. PHOTO: Anna Duurheim
De Villiers has so far raised R128 000, after completing the 42,2 km marathon this past weekend. He was joined by over 100 other SU staff members, students and alumni who all registered in an effort to support #Move4Food.
One such staff member was Donor Relations Manager Cheryl Benadie, who completed her first 10km run in support of the campaign.
“I am definitely going to keep up the running, so this campaign has helped me to access a part of myself that I didn’t know was there,” Benadie says.
PHOTO: Cheryl Benadie, colleagues and friends after the Sanlam Cape Town marathon. PHOTO: Anna Duurheim
“I felt like I couldn’t ask donors to do something I wasn’t willing to do – and although I didn’t see myself as a runner, I signed up for the 10km and set up my GivenGain page. “Since that day in July, when I was the only fundraiser on that page for a few weeks, we now have 44 Fundraisers who have raised over R284 000.”
Student hunger is an issue faced across campuses in South Africa. According to the National Research Foundation, up to 30% of students experience food insecurity.
Food insecurity is a national issue, and is especially dire on campuses. INFOGRAPHIC: Lauren Dold
“One student that goes hungry is one too many. What impressed me most with this campaign has been the phenomenal response from our students, staff and alumni – more of 40 of whom also set up fundraising projects of their own. It shows each person can make a difference,” De Villiers said.
Along with the marathon over the weekend, other #Move4Food activities have taken place on campus, like the 24 hour “spinathon” held in the Neelsie last week.
Twelve stationary bikes saw 8 000 km covered by participants over the 24 hour period. This event helped draw attention to the enormous donation lunch box set up in the Neelsie, designed by “Engineers without Borders Maties”, a society of second and third year engineering students.
Spinning instructors kept spinathon participants motivated by singing songs and playing games. PHOTO: provided.
“I’ve always been really passionate about the idea that if one person in your community is not fine, then everyone is not fine, so when I heard about the #Move4Food campaign it really hit home because it was just such an incredible idea,” says Nopi Mubaiwa (20), Sonop residence prim.
“Participating in the spinathon was really cool. I was a bit reluctant only because cycling is not my forte, but it was so fun, it was such a vibe, and the fact that we were doing it for a good cause made it worth it.”
The campaign will be ongoing for the next two months, allowing plenty of time for more effort, more donations, and less food insecurity on SU campus.