Cape Town Marathon Charity Partner

Grootbos Foundation is proud to announce that we are an official charity partner of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, one of only five local charities selected to partner with the marathon in 2026.

For Grootbos Foundation, this partnership is a natural fit. It is not only a powerful opportunity to raise vital funds for our conservation and community programmes, but also a platform to champion the extraordinary natural landscapes that surround Cape Town and define our work. Cape Town and the Western Cape of South Africa is home to one of the most unique landscapes in the world; 70% of the plants found here are found nowhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, this landscape is under threat due to human activity, invasive plants and land mismanagement. Grootbos Foundation, based in Gansbaai, a short 2 hour drive from Cape Town, is committed to the protection of this unique and precious landscape. We have a 23 year legacy of conservation and community upliftment. Over 300 young people have graduated from our skills college since 2003, each year approximately 3'000 children are supported through our Sports Development programme and our conservation team have been instrumental in identifying 7 new-to-science plant species and the protection of over 26'000ha of land through the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy, all while supporting youth to find work in sustainable, green careers. 

As the Cape Town Marathon moves closer to becoming the first Abbott World Marathon Major on African soil, it offers a unique moment to connect runners from around the world with the fynbos and the globally significant Cape Floral Kingdom. We believe that as runners train, race, and recover in the Mother City, they should have the opportunity to truly experience, understand, and appreciate the natural heritage they are running through.

With the expected increase in international participation linked to Abbott Major status, marathon entries for fundraisers have been priced in dollars. Each Grootbos Foundation fundraiser has committed to raising $2,000, and we are proud to share that our runners have already raised $11,082, an inspiring testament to the power of running with purpose.

We currently have a dedicated team of 7 runners who have chosen to run for Grootbos Foundation, driven by a deep care for the natural world and a desire to make their race count for something more. We will continue to recruit charity runners until the end of January, with the goal of building a team of purpose-driven runners. 

If you, or someone you know, believes in protecting nature, uplifting communities, and using sport as a force for good, we would love to hear from you. 

To enquire about fundraising and running with Grootbos Foundation, click here: https://lnkd.in/dJTGD-4a or contact penelope@grootbosfoundation.org

To support one of our current fundraisers, donations can be made via GivenGain: https://lnkd.in/dhz5bewA