Dutch run Two Oceans Marathon for Mitchells Plain schools

By Rhodé Marshall
17 March 2008

A group from the Netherlands are putting on their running shoes in a bid to raise funds for two primary schools in Mitchells Plain. The tourists of approximately 30 people are to take part in the Two Oceans Marathon on Saturday.

The fundraiser is a project by Run4Schools (R4S) which is a Dutch foundation that has taken Alpine Primary and Northwood Primary under its wings. The foundation assists the schools with finances for their after school sports programmes.

“The group is based on volunteers, people from all walks of life. What they are doing is looking at ways to raise funds for the schools, so that we can buy equipment and support the schools,” says R4S Co-ordinator Alicia Campbell.

She says they direct their sports days as a tool for social upliftment for communities such as Mitchells Plain and that some of the Dutch taking part in the race are not athletes.

“The initiative is absolutely brilliant for people (the Dutch) who don’t know us at all, that have no idea of what happens in the communities of Mitchells Plain, Cape Town or South Africa,” says Campbell.