NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN’S FUND LAUNCHES FUN WALK

On Saturday, 16 July 2022, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) will launch the Children’s Fun Walk as part of the Fund’s 27th Annual Children’s Celebration.
 
The Annual Children’s Celebration is a tradition of the Fund, started by its founder, former president, Mr Nelson Mandela, who celebrated his birthday on 18 July with children, during and post his presidency. The day is now famously known as International Mandela Day.
 
Interim CEO of the Fund, Dr Stanley Maphosa, says “Madiba loved children and wanted to ensure that as a society, we could take a moment to bring joy to their lives and celebrate them so they can feel appreciated in spite of the many challenges that they face in our country.”
 
After two years of disruptions due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fund could not host mass celebrations and is cautiously approaching this year’s event with a similar approach but some aplomb. Maphosa continues, “We thought launching a Children’s Fun Walk would be a great way to get our beneficiaries, in particular children and youth, as well as our stakeholders and donors, to come out again and have fun in public spaces following two years of confinement as a result of the pandemic.”
 
The theme of the event is, “Walking the extra mile so vulnerable children do not have to.” The route will include a 5-kilometre fun walk within the zoo to allow our stakeholders to experience the significance of walking for a good cause.
 
In addition to the great achievements of the Fund’s existence, its flagship project, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) celebrates five years of existence as the only dedicated children’s hospital in Gauteng. Maphosa says, “This is a key milestone for both organisations and we wanted to commemorate this anniversary as part of the work of the Fund and NMCH”.
 
To limit numbers, it has been decided to make this a closed event which will involve stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Fund. However, the organisation still encourages the public to get involved in other ways. “We use this event annually to respond to the needs of vulnerable children. The public can get involved by visiting our website and contributing in various ways by becoming ambassadors of the event and spreading the word or helping us raise in-kind and cash donations which form part of our wish-list (https://www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com/ ). These will then be distributed to our various implementing partners in need across South Africa,” concludes Maphosa.
 
Nedbank has been a key partner of the Fund since its inception and will once again support the organisation as the underwriting sponsor of the event. Mr Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank says, “supporting such an initiative really makes a difference in the well-being of children in South Africa. For the public to join such a  worthy cause, all they need to do is, simply bank and invest with Nedbank by opening and funding a Nedbank Children’s Affinity linked savings or investment account,  and we will donate the earnings to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund on their behalf, at no cost.”
 
The Fund will continue celebrations throughout the month of July as part of its campaign for the public to #ServeLikeMandela. The organisation says that this is a call for everyone to “Walk a Mile” in Mandela’s shoes and follow in his example of being of service to others during International Mandela Month and beyond.
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The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) is a social development agency founded by former president, Mr Nelson Mandela in 1995. In line with its vision to Change the Way Society Treats its Children and youth, the Fund’s mission is to give voice and dignity to the African child by building a rights-based movement. The organisation’s strategic programmes include, Child Safety and Protection, Child Survival Development and Thriving, Sustainable Livelihoods, Youth Leadership and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown, Johannesburg.
For more information contact:
 
Nomthi Mnisi
Chief Business Engagement Officer
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
nomthi@nmcf.co.za
 
OR
 
Ayabulela Poro
Manager: Communications and Marketing
ayabulelap@nmcf.co.za   
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
Telephone: 011 274 5600
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