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Bidvest company, Konica Minolta South Africa has sponsored the popular Gauteng-based Jackie Mekler road race for the eighth consecutive year. Having taken place on 4 May 2013, the race has been organised since 1986 by the Pretoria Military Marathon Club (PMMC).
The event – which comprises races of 25 and 10 kilometres as well as a five kilometre fun run - takes its name from Comrades Marathon icon, Jackie Mekler, heralded as one of only five people to have won the Comrades Marathon on five occasions and the first to make it to the finishing line in less than six hours, including the notorious “up run”.
“Konica Minolta South Africa is proud to be associated with this prestigious race, which has increased in popularity over the years, attracting some of the top ultra distance athletes in South Africa. A total of 2,500 runners participated in this year’s event and judging from the positive feedback, it was a resounding success,” says Ritchi Smith, marketing coordinator at Konica Minolta South Africa.
This year, the PMMC made the decision to donate a percentage of the proceeds from the race to the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF), based on Konica Minolta South Africa’s support of WWF’s African Rhino Programme (ARP) and the significant results it has produced in addressing the rhino-poaching crisis. Showing its commitment to continue this social responsibility programme at future events, the PMMC depicted a rhino on the face of its fun run medal.