Cotlands Run to Play: A Fun Family Race For an Amazing Cause

The Cotlands organisation invites corporates, individuals and running communities alike to take part in a fun race at Old Parks Sports Club.

Funds raised from the run go in support of early childhood development for thousands of young, vulnerable children who don’t have access to any early learning programme and need a strong start to their learning journeys.

Cotlands Run to Play | What's on in Joburg

A run with a purpose

The fun race brings people together with a shared purpose: to invest in the early years of a child’s life, where the foundation for future learning, confidence and success is built.

With the support of avid walkers and runners and purpose-driven partners, Cotlands aims to change the lives of vulnerable children by giving them access to quality, play-based early learning and a brighter future through education.

This call to action comes at a critical moment in South Africa’s education system as President Cyril Ramaphosa recently reaffirmed that South Africa can achieve improved matric results by strengthening the early learning sector, highlighting that investment in early childhood development (ECD) is essential to giving children a solid foundation to excel in later schooling years and beyond.

Funds raised through the race will support Cotlands’ Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Hubs. These hubs bring together centre-based playgroups, a learning-materials library that supports under- resourced ECD centres in surrounding communities, and a training centre offering skills-based and accredited training for ECD practitioners.

Cotlands’ ECCE hubs serve as centres of excellence, delivering quality early learning services that help reduce inequality, ignite potential and ensure young children are ready to learn when they enter formal schooling.

Activities, food stalls and a pop-up toy library

Taking place at the Old Parks Sports Club in Bordeaux, Randburg, the Race forms part of Cotlands’ celebration of 90 years of kindness, care and impact in the lives of vulnerable children across South Africa.

Held just two days after World Kindness Day, this year’s event perfectly reflects the spirit of the occasion and the legacy that Cotlands has built over nine decades. Participants can choose between a 2 km, 5 km and 8 km race.

Enjoy a pop-up toy library, children’s entertainment, music, and delicious food stalls at the finish line. The event is open to all ages, so bring your running shoes and your whole crew for a fun-filled day out in the park.

How to enter

Cotlands is calling on all corporates seeking meaningful CSI partnerships, individuals passionate about children’s development and running clubs eager to run with purpose, to enter the race on cotlands.org or for group entries, send an email to [email protected].

Cotlands has partnered with Collivery.net, South Africa’s leading online courier company, to deliver your race pack free of charge directly to your door a few weeks before the race.