Students take up takkies to make a difference

Foot soldiers: (Back, from left) Steve MacKenzie (GSB), Sarah Ryerson and Rush McClay of the Wharton Business School; and (front, from left) Jacob Lief, Siphokazi Nojoko and Vuyo Tshafa were among the business students to run the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon to raise money for Students 4 Students.

A group of about 23 international students, mainly from Wharton Business School in the US, and students from the Graduate School of Business (GSB) donned their takkies to run the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon as part of a new international fundraising initiative.

The Students trundled the 56km of Cape Town's famous scenic race for Students 4 Students (S4S), a non-profit organisation that raises funds to promote education in underdeveloped regions, particularly in South Africa. S4S earns money mainly through corporate sponsorship, mainly using events like marathons and ultra marathons.

The primary South African beneficiary of S4S's activities is currently the Ubuntu Education Fund, which works in the Zwide township just outside Port Elizabeth. Ubuntu is set to receive more than R4-million in donations from the S4S in 2005. The money will go towards building a health-education headquarters in Zwide.