Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund launches at the Children’s Fun Walk

On Saturday, 16 July 2022, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) launched the Children’s Fun Walk as part of the Fund’s 27th Annual Children’s Celebration.

The Annual Children’s Celebration is a tradition of the Fund, started by its founder, former president, Mr Nelson Mandela, who celebrated his birthday on 18 July with children, during and post his presidency. The day is now famously known as International Mandela Day. 

Interim CEO of the Fund, Dr Stanley Maphosa, says

“Madiba loved children and wanted to ensure that as a society, we could take a moment to bring joy to their lives and celebrate them so they can feel appreciated in spite of the many challenges that they face in our country.”

After two years of disruptions due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fund could not host mass celebrations and cautiously approached this year’s event with a similar approach but some aplomb. Maphosa continues,

“We thought launching a Children’s Fun Walk would be a great way to get our beneficiaries, in particular children and youth, as well as our stakeholders and donors, to come out again and have fun in public spaces following two years of confinement as a result of the pandemic.” 

Nedbank has been a key partner of the Fund since its inception and will once again support the organisation as the underwriting sponsor of the event. 

The theme of the event is, “Walking the extra mile so vulnerable children do not have to.” The route included a 5-kilometre fun walk within the zoo to allow stakeholders to experience the significance of walking for a good cause. 

For more details visit www.nelsonmandelachildrenfund.com