Virtual Challenge
South Africa’s sporting heroes and celebrities alike are joining hands to raise funds for Covid-19 relief efforts, presented by FXTM. The Nelson Mandela Covid-19 Relief Virtual Challenge will take place on Saturday, 1 August 2020 and invites the general public to join the country’s biggest sports stars in real-time through the Zwift app, and make donations in order to raise funds for Covid-19 relief.
The Nelson Mandela Covid-19 Relief Virtual Challenge presented by FXTM is an official Nelson Mandela Day initiative, in association with partners ATC, BCX and Hulamin. The virtual challenge is named after the World Icon and Father of a nation, Nelson Mandela. In the difficult time of the global pandemic, the event aims to encourage social cohesion and provide Covid-19 relief efforts with the “Each One Feed One” campaign (www.nelsonmandela.org) to South Africans.
The virtual challenge will see some of the country’s biggest sportsmen stepping up to support the virtual charity event, among those are the Emirates Lions, Vodacom Bulls, Imperial Lions Cricket, Momentum Multiply Titans Cricket, Nedbank Running club, FXTM Cycling Team, Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ride4Hope invitational teams.
The growing list of celebrities taking part in the event is TV-presenter Maps Maponyane, ex-professional footballer Brian Baloyi and 2020 Cape Cycle Tour winner Travis Barrett.
Sello Hatang, Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation “The Challenge gives participants and contributors an opportunity to give hope to the people whose lives they touch during this challenge. The initiative helps ensure that people who feel discarded and forgotten are assisted through the challenge’s contributions. Putting miles on their paddles to change lives,notwithstanding that this year due to COVID-19 the ride will be virtual .”
“Uniting with Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ride4Hope to present the Covid-19 Relief Virtual Challenge is an absolute honour for FXTM. I sincerely encourage people to tune in, root for their favourite teams, and help raise funds for those most affected by the Covid-19 virus in South Africa”, says Lex Webster, Chief Commercial Officer, for Exinity Group who’s brands include FXTM.
“As the great Mandela himself said, ‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead'”, adds Webster.
The event allows for people around the world to ride remotely and virtually. Participants will be able to join their sporting heroes in real-time on Zwift from 07:00 to 12:30 in allocated timeslots.
Through the generosity of our partners, participants will stand a chance to win a Toyota Fortuner (for a month), signed team jerseys from all participating teams, Ciovita cycling hamper, Weber Braai unit and a Falke hamper.
Participants can enter the challenge for free and join the raffle of choice with all proceeds going towards donations for Covid-19 relief efforts. The public is also welcome to make a donation.