A special moment for the 100 athletes who were launching the 103km route in 2018 was when approaching Bityi station after 60km, another historic landmark in the life and times of Madiba, the runners were joined by a group of heroes and heroines between the ages of 7 and 13 years who ran with them a good 5kms.  What struck the runners was that some were running with torn takes and some barefoot.  That deeply touched the hearts of the runners and sparked a National campaign - Promote Sport for Social Change which was championed by the initial 100 runners from 2018.

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They collected about 60 brand new running shoes and collected more than 100 used but in good condition running shoes to be donated to these rural communities.  That same year brand new school shoes, sanitary towels and bicycles for learners who stayed more than 3kms away from school without any scholar transport were given to students of Clarkebury Institution and Jongintaba Secondary School.

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In 2020 during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, The Icon’s Journey Marathon through it’s CSI program reached out to the hardest hit famalies by the pandemic by donating food parcels to homes in these villages, Clarkebury, Nkondlo, Bhaziya, Mqhekezweni, Qunu and Mvezo.

 

In the same year The Icon’s Journey Marathon in partnership with Sports for Ubuntu and Brand South Africa hosted a virtual event which was free-entry for all. Participants were encouraged to donate any amount towards the Promote Sport for Social Change back-to-school program. 200 school shoes were bought from the donations received. 

 

In November 2020 we worked with 5 social runners led by Tshepo Malapane who were running 300km from Pretoria to Polokwane to raise funds for Cancer awareness. The run was spread over 3,5 days as they covered 90km each day.  

 

In December 2020 we worked with 2 athletes who were led by Themba Mathebula who ran 450km from Pretoria to Bushbuckridge over 12 days to raise funds for 450 school shoes and sanitary towels for village schools. In the end the event was a success because enough funds were raised to buy a total of 600 pairs.

 

In July 2021, 15 social runners ran from Fort Hare University in Alice to Mvezo village in 8 days covering a total distance of 400km. The aim was to raise enough funds to benefit 4000 rural / township school boys and girls with school shoes, sanitary towels & sports kits. 

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In In July 2022, 19 social runners ran from Fort Hare University in Alice to Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha covering a total distance of 400km in 8 consecutive days. To date they have raised R 100 000 and other in kind donations (sanitary pads, sports equipment kit) to benefit 2000 school kids nationally.