Sportsmen going the extra mile for children living with HIV/AIDS

Sportsmen are coming out in force to raise money for children with HIV/AIDS. Three fundraising events hosted by the Starfish Foundation aim to help more than 9 000 children. The funds are for food, uniforms and school fees.

Soccer star Lucas Radebe organised a football match on Saturday. The other two events, a marathon in KwaZulu-Natal and the arrival in Cape Town of five people who have cycled from London, take place tomorrow.

"The Return of the Greathearts" is run in tandem with the 90km Comrades Marathon. At least 120 runners are taking part in aid of Starfish and the money they raise is to go to rural communities along the Durban-Pietermaritzburg route.

Corporate sponsors are also helping. Runner Willie Motolo has secured a donation from Harmony, while Wimpy is to give the Starfish fund R1 for every runner who completes the Comrades.

Mr Price has issued "Starfish Greathearts" wristbands to every runner and is to contribute R3 for each one wearing the wristband who finishes the race. It is also to give Starfish R2 000 for each Mr Price-sponsored runner among the first 10 to cross the finish.

Starfish has raised R25 million, enabling it to support more than 45 community-based initiatives in seven provinces.

"One woman raised R20 000 in a week. The corporations support us without question," said Heidi Flint of Starfish.

Tomorrow, cyclists Briton Steve McInerny and South Africans Sean McDiarmid, his wife Michelle, Kate Stuart-Williams, and Heather Gear reach the foot of Table Mountain, the end of their odyssey.