Well-known Durban-based runner, Dean Wight has succeeded in raising over R400 000 for HACT through this year’s Comrades Marathon Race for Charity campaign making him the iconic race’s top charity fundraiser for the third year in a row and putting his total tally raised for our organization at just over R1 million.
Despite this year’s 95th running of the Comrades Marathon being canceled in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Dean still managed to raise the record amount thanks to the goodwill of his close friends, family and local online running network, Beloved Long Runs (BLR) KZN. Speaking of his accomplishment, Dean said, “I was in two minds what to set my fundraising target as this year, but in the end, the 2020 race’s slogan of #DareToDream spurred me on and I’m so glad I did because HACT really needs these funds now more than ever…”
HACT CEO, Candace Davidson explained how Dean’s perseverance paid off after months of hard work and creative fundraising which included selling BLR merchandise and getting friends and family to sponsor a 78km run around his garden during the initial 21-day lockdown period. “If there’s one thing we’ve come to know about Dean, it’s that he doesn’t do things in half measures. Be it running 1566 laps around his 50m garden for HACT during the lockdown, running 90km in the Race the Comrades Legends virtual race or raising much-needed funds for HACT, he always goes the distance,” said Davidson.
The bulk of the funds raised through this year’s Comrades campaign for HACT will be going towards our COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund explains Candace; “helping to mitigate the far-reaching impact of COVID-19 on those considered the most vulnerable and at-risk within our local communities, including those with compromised immune systems due to HIV/AIDS or TB as well as the elderly is our current focus in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the context of the coronavirus and ongoing regulations and safety concerns, our team has had to find new creative ways of offering supportive services to our many beneficiaries.”
HACT is an official charity of the Comrades Marathon, for more info on our Comrades campaign, please click here.