At a launch held at Lilliesleaf in September this year, South African radio station Kaya FM announced its aim to host the inaugural Kaya FM 67km Relay Challenge in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, to take place on 14 July 2013.
A relay was identified to encourage corporate / group participation and to reiterate the importance of teamwork as a progressive social value.
Greg Maloka, Kaya FM’s MD, commented: “We want to show what can be achieved when people come together as a collective to make a difference, so a relay made sense.’ Maloka added: “We also believe that handing over the baton Mr Mandela has been carrying, literally and symbolically, to the next generation will ensure the work he started will be continued.’
The Kaya FM 67km Relay Challenge hopes to see 67 000 people, compromising of 6 700 teams of 10 team members each running or walking a 6.7km leg to raise funds and create awareness for various charities, the Centre of Memory and Mandela Day.
Launched on 18 July 2009, Mandela Day was conceived as an initiative to encourage people to make the world a better place by making a difference in their communities. Acknowledging the 67 years Nelson Mandela was involved in activism, people were asked to pledge 67 minutes or more of their time to helping those in need.
Kaya FM heeded the call and put together 67 stories of communities that were living the Mandela Day concept every day. The station’s dedication and commitment earned them the Gift of the Givers Award presented by The Vodacom Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
In 2010, along with the Bikers for Mandela initiative, Kaya FM made a pledge to broadcast two messages every day for 67 years, with a focus on the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Mandela himself. The station presented a framed broadcast schedule dated July 18, 2010 to July 18, 2077.
