Mitchell’s Plain educator Irafaan Abrahams wraps up the Irafaan Abrahams New York City Marat hon Million Rand Challenge.

Six months of hard work will finally come to an end on Wednesday when Mitchell’s Plain educator Irafaan Abrahams wraps up the Irafaan Abrahams New York City Marathon Million Rand Challenge. The brainchild of the energetic teacher, affectionately known as Vinnige Fanie, was launched in September 2011, ahead of Irafaans’s entry into the elite marathon in November last year.

Irafaan had three objectives: to run and complete the New York City marathon, to use the race as the impetus to raise money for underprivileged schools in the Western Cape and to donate some of the proceeds to the Beitul-Amaan old age home.

At the start of his campaign, Irafaan identified nine struggling schools to participate – his own school Rocklands High, Rylands High, Parkhurst Primary Chapel Street Primary, Glendale High, South Peninsula High, Darul-Arqam Islamic High Trafalgar High, and Sea Point Primary School. Learners were issued with a sponsorship card to collect funds for their school. Collectively, the schools raised in excess of R200 000, which will be spent on purchasing much needed resources.

To ease the burden on the Beitul-Amaan old age home, an initial target for R10 000 was set. But due to overwhelming support from the Itheko running club, Ommie Draai hiking club, Top Form running club and other donors, R32 000 was reached.

“In hindsight, we realized that the schools needed time to maximise their profits for a project like this. The money was only raised in a month and a half and the time was far too short to raise R200 000 per school as we had envisaged,” Irafaan acknowleged.

“But this project went beyond my expectations. R1 million was the carrot we dangled…I think it was a good target to push towards. But I’m more than happy with the end result.”

While this campaign is a legacy project for education, it is also a catalyst for a number of community projects he has planned over the next four years. Irafaan has not packed away his running takkies and sweats just yet. He hopes to complete every one of the big five global marathons over the next four years and at the same time, financially support at least 10 schools annually.

“There were many people that did not think it would be successful. But the passion shown by Team Fanie proved that with a common goal and hard work, you can achieve. This project is something I will continue to grow…”

For the 2012 campaign, Irafaan urged more sponsors to jump on board and buy into the project.

“I was let down by a lot of people who did not deliver on their promises. But to the sponsors that did, thank you for your support.”

For more information on the campaign, visit HYPERLINK “http://irafaanabrahams.com” t “_blank” irafaanabrahams.com or visit his Facebook page at NYC Marathon Million Rand Challenge.

For enquiries call:

Irafaan Abrahams

076 209 5630 / 084 283 9977