- Karoline Hanks, founder of Project Noordhoeked, will tackle the 160 km Ultra-Trail Cape Town to raise funds.
- Her goal is to secure R80,000 to continue employing four local workers for environmental upkeep.
- So far, R51,000 has been raised, and Hanks is determined to reach her target.
A race to test anyone’s endurance, the RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT), will be embarked on by Project Noordhoeked founder Karoline Hanks, with the aim of raising funds.
The fundraising initiative is to ensure the four men employed by the non profit community project can stay put for another year.
With only weeks away and a fundraising target of R80 000, around R51 000 has already been generously raised.
“I am basically running the 100-miler – a 160 km – to raise funds for Project Noordhoeked,” Hanks shared with People’s Post. “My target of R80 000 funding will be going to a worthy cause.”
The avid trail runner will merge her two passions at this year’s UTCT which takes place from Friday 22 November.
“I’ve been a trail runner for 20 years and do a lot of endurance races, such as the 13 Peaks, back to back, and a run to raise funds for turtle rehabilitation, so I love to run races while raising funds.”
The NPO is based in Noordhoek where they employ four men to clear alien vegetation, beach clean-ups and maintain footbridges, to name a few activities.
“We keep Noordhoek beach/wetland and lagoon free of ocean plastic and we also tackle invasive plants in the wetland, keep it free of snares, and collect rubbish from the roadsides and river edges.”
The community project’s work includes maintaining trails in the wetland and on the mountain as well as building trail infrastructure.
“We have built many eco-brick benches in and around Noordhoek, maintained the gardens around these benches and we are continuously raising funds (by recruiting new donors from the community) but always fundraising in order to keep doing what we do.”
The goal with the back-a-buddy campaign is to keep the men employed for another year and to assist one of the workers with the opportunity to visit his son after a seven-year absence.
“Help us help him get home and return safely to continue the good work in our beautiful valley,” added Hanks. “If there are any doubts regarding our projects, residents are welcome to look at what we do on our social media pages.”
Many hours are going into practising for the trail run, with hydration being an important factor.
“You need to do three days in a row of intent mileage and be on your feet,” shares Hanks. “Hydration and just practising is very important.”
To assist Project Noordhoeked to reach their fundraising target of R80k go to https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/running-100-miles-for-project-noordhoeked
