Monday, 16 May 2011 16:11
Cyclist to runner to conservation supporter
Thirty-four-year-old Anthony Clapham, great-grandson of Vic Clapham senior who launched the first-ever Comrades Marathon in 1921, is running the 2011 Comrades Marathon in support of the Wildlands Conservation Trust (Wildlands). Clapham is raising funds for Wildlands through the Race 4 Charity (www.race4charity.co.za/) initiative. Race 4 Charity was started by radio personality Brad Brown after he competed in the 2010 Comrades Marathon in support of his mother, who battled cancer before she tragically passed away.
According to Wildlands’ Wild Series Manager, Heidi Mocke, the Trust is delighted that Anthony has chosen conservation as the theme for his run, and that he selected Wildlands, in particular, as his beneficiary. “We’re holding thumbs for Anthony on his first-ever Comrades. We know he will do his family proud, and whatever funds he is able to raise will go to an extremely worthy cause.”
Mocke says Clapham was approached to run for Wildlands, and that the funds he raises will be used to promote the Trust’s Sustainable Communities initiative. Through this programme, Wildlands empowers people from disadvantaged communities to become self-supporting by growing indigenous trees, and bartering them for basic goods such as food, building materials and wheel barrows; educational support, such as school uniforms, stationery and payment of school and tertiary education (as well as drivers licences); and a growing range of sustainable-use goods such as bicycles, JoJo water tanks, and solar water heaters. Wildlands is one of the five official Comrades charities and their Bonitas ReLeaf Campaign raises thousands for this initiative every year.
Says Clapham: “My inspiration to run comrades initially is in memory of my great grandfather, Vic Clapham. I decided to try and make a difference for humanity and the environment as a whole. I really enjoy the outdoors and nature in general, so the idea that Wildlands will plant more trees as a result of something I do is awesome. I admire Wildlands’ involvement in recycling, and creating sustainable communities.
A Pietermaitzburg local, Clapham’s sport of choice is actually cycling, but the Clapham gene is strong and he enjoys the occasional run. While he has never run a marathon in his life and realises that his first Comrades will be a challenge but he hopes to experience a fun and successful run.
About the Sustainable Communities Programme
The sustainable Communities initiative encourages children and adults from rural and township communities to grow indigenous trees from seeds collected in their area. This earns the ‘tree-preneurs’ credits which can be exchanged for food, education, bicycles and a wide range of other goods. ‘Waste-preneurs’ also collect waste that is sorted at a central depot and the various streams are sold on for recycling which is also bartered for goods. There are more than 4000 tree-preneurs and waste-preneurs earning a ‘green-living’ in South Africa today.
About the Wildlands Conservation Trust
Wildlands Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization working towards A Sustainable Future for All. This vision is inspired by one of the greatest Statesman of our times, Nelson Mandela, whose vision - Freedom for All – was regarded by many as unobtainable, yet inspired the transformation of South Africa. We seek to inspire and support the ongoing transformation of South Africa into a Nation that has harnessed the opportunities of the “Green Revolution”, as it evolves and gathers momentum. To achieve this, Wildlands is progressively developing and implementing a range of sustainable enterprise and conservation based community development programs. For more information visit www.wildlands.co.za.
Add comment
