Begging Bowl :(

It has taken me a long time to get around to this but tis the season of giving, so I shall post this now and get it over with.

'Hibs, if you feel is inappropriate feel free to delete'

As I have alluded to before, I belong to a running club in a less affluent part of Cape Town. It is very small but we are very involved with development of under privileged kids in the townships for 4 months of the year (during winter - cross country) . From this we identify potential and then these guys and girls come run for Easterns and we 'develop' them by providing nutrition, running shoes, track suits and coaching.

Me, I am the fund raiser . A job which gets harder as the economy continues to contract ( I do not care what they say about 2.4% growth )and companies tighten their belts to survive

So here comes the begging bit .... one of our athletes who was a complete 'nothing' three years ago and is now our top Marathon and Ultra Marathon runner (portfolio available but won the Winelands Marathon, the Prison to Prison Marathon, 3rd WP runner home in the Two Oceans and was offered opportunity to represent WP at the National Marathon champs which we turned down as it had to be self funded and the timing was wrong for the athlete). Now Abongile lives in a tin shack in the local township with his mom, wife and 2 yr old child. The problem is the water table is very high and every time there is rain it rises into the shack and they walk around in water.
Abongile is continuosly sick as his family get sick and he just gets infected as well. We targeted the Prison to Prison Marathon for him to defend his title but pulled him off the road after 25 km's as he was trying to run while ill (he did not tell us before the race as he knew we would advise against running) .We would really like to raise funds to buy him a fair sized wendy house that he can raise
off the ground on cinder blocks or something.

The question is: Can anyone here help with this ? Or make a donation towards the purchase...

In return, if it is a company we can help by putting company name clearly on his track suit for when he is on the podium. We can place advertisements (banner, flags) at our Cape Town Marathon
water table which does get some television coverage. We can organise local press for the handover of the 'cheque / wendy house' whatever to get some coverage in the press. We can also include the ‘sponsored by’ information on our club leaflets for our 15km club run.

We are a registered NPO and all money is strictly controlled by my girl who is stricter than a Catholic Nun when it comes to 'her' athletes {smile}. Accounts available for inspection anytime, and the athletes portfolio and progress can be published so his progress can be monitored.

Okay, that was not easy... but posting this is the challenge {meanders off for a serious tot or three of JWB}

One more thing, I do have a sponsor who gives us R20k a year to look after the 'elite' athletes of which we restrict to maximum 6 as that is all the money covers for a year. We have three really talented youngsters (was four but Eric died tragically recently at the ridiculous age of 20) and would like to add them to the program as these 'kids' run to support themselves. That podium finish and prize of R150 is their food for the week. So anyone wishing to make a small donation, monthly stipend etc..... {holds out begging bowl some more}

Thanks for reading this !!! eishhhhhh ....

Madji can you included the account details please.

gregbucks Wrote:

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> Madji can you included the account details please.


Will do shortly ...... gotta get them from my wench who is out running at the moment

Magi, there are so many worthy causes around etc that it is often difficult to go with one above any other. However, you are a bud and you also like a gamble. Hopefully, there may be others who feel the same way. So, I have a proposal...

Pick three horses on a daily basis for a week and I'll choose one of them each day and have R50 on the nose. If you would prefer, then I'll pick the three and you can opt for which one but I will go big odds probably in hope rather than belief, up to you. If the horse wins then I'll donate half the winnings to the cause. I will also double the stake for the next day with my half of the winnings. Of course, it would be gutting if the other two win each day lol and if they all lose then its a blank and I would have been better off giving you the R350 but, if there are winners about then it may be worthwhile. Just a fun way of potentially helping without me really thinking that I am choosing your cause over others.

What do you think? If you say yes, hopefully there may be one or two others who think the same way and want to give it a go (he says with a small prayer some will be nodding in agreement lol...)

Englander {doffs hat in appreciation} .... much appreciated. As every penny counts my instinct is to say "We will take the money, not the box" - ... but propose this... You do what you suggest BUT on the daily thread you nominate which runner will carry the EKAC R50 50% share !! I cannot pick winners at the moment so will poison anything with half a hope !!

ABSA Bank - Cheque Account
EASTERN KRFN ATHLETIC CLUB
Branch Code: 632005
Account number: 4077846847

plse use reference : ABC-AAF ....... if you wish to get letter of acknowledgement or want to be acknowledged here then replace the ABC with ur ABC username.

TIA !!

Edit: Just for clarity...the AAF is Athlete Assistance Fund .... is kept separate from club admin funds, and audited separately as there is more 'accountability' (read scrutiny) by club members.

No problem with that maestro, will wait for one I like a little before I start (tu) might PM you though if no-one else is in, they ain't having the idiot naps without throwing a rand or two to "help out" someone who has historically helped them build up their own blardy coffers!!! And I mean you obviously rather than me!!! lmao

The Madji what sort of cost for Wendy house ?

Sham Racing Wrote:

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> The Madji what sort of cost for Wendy house ?


For bare minimum living, one room is circa R19k. For two rooms R33k.........

and for the record I am seriously impressed by those who have already donated and sent me PM's..... Quiet unsung hero's in my opinion. You know who you are and thank you very much !!!

The Madji Wrote:

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> Sham Racing Wrote:
>

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>

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> > The Madji what sort of cost for Wendy house ?
>
>
> For bare minimum living, one room is circa R19k.
> For two rooms R33k.........
>
> and for the record I am seriously impressed by
> those who have already donated and sent me
> PM's..... Quiet unsung hero's in my opinion. You
> know who you are and thank you very much !!!

FYI some prices
3 X 5 start from R15990 excl incl 3 x 4 cabin 1m veranda 3 x 800 x 450 windows divider to bathroom
WENDY FACTORY

Thanks for that James. We only looked in Western Cape and those prices I gave are valid (and no where as nice as the ones on the website you posted). We will haggle and negotiate once we in a position to do so (tu) ...

Any savings from purchases upcountry are negated by transport costs... unless someone has an old wendy house to donate then we just need ching to transport and erect....

The Madji Wrote:

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> and for the record I am seriously impressed by
> those who have already donated and sent me
> PM's..... Quiet unsung hero's in my opinion. You
> know who you are and thank you very much !!!

Good for you guys, whoever you may be -D