At Rhodes we ask..."Don't leave only footprints", and once again the Rhodes runners, their families and friends proved extremely generous.

This year there were a number of projects to assist the local community.

DM Kisch Inc

The team from DM Kisch once again did a remarkable job at the Rhodes Public School in Zakhele. Even though they were down in manpower they made up for it with commitment and enthusiasm.

The DMK team painted and revamped the staff room at the school, provided a new urn and crockery, set up soccer goals and netball hoops, installed new locks on all the doors and still had the energy to make vetkoek and sandwiches for their feed station at the top of Mavis Bank. Well-deserved winners of the Chairman's Shield.

For DM Kisch's report on their 2013 Rhodes Public School Zakhele project go here.

Run to Read

Thank you for the donations to the Run to Read project. Every donation is much appreciated.

Amazing what comes in, books (thank you Adventure Racing Club Jhb), pens and crayons (thanks Staedtler), generous donations to replace 'Box Library' books that have been well used (well done children! that is what we want to see happen to the books; read, read and re-read). 

Vera Hlalela (Chairman, Rhodes Public School Zakhele SGB) receives the donations

Gloves & scarves

After experiencing that bitter wet, cold last year at her first Rhodes, Christel Pelser took it upon herself to knit gloves and a scarf for every child at the school. She succeeded. Over 250 pairs of gloves, some with rather intricate designs and decorations, and over 300 scarves were handed over to the school.

Christel Pelser (far left) delivers her gloves 

Vera Hlalela is thrilled

Fill the Bakkie

PKF Port Elizabeth with their 'Fill the bakkie' challenge and all the many, many other donations of blankets, clothing, shoes. 

To the folk who dropped off donations at Race HQ - the front stoep of Race HQ was jam-packed on Saturday evening thanks for your kindness.

PKF PE's Ford Ranger....filled !

Sanitary towels

A new project, the brain-child of Jane MacKinnon. Almost half of a Ford Ranger bakkie load was collected. This is a really meaningful project. Thank you Jane for creating the awareness.

Crèche

Tony G and Peter C made significant special donations that will be used to purchase stimulating toys and educational aids for the enquiring minds at the pre-school crèche in Zakhele.

Vulture Restaurant

Part of the proceeds from the sale of Polar Bear t-shirts and all of the proceeds from the sale of the Rhodes Trail Run Polar Bear Club® membership certificates goes to the Rhodes Vulture Restaurant (situated on the commonage above 'Walkerbouts'). On Saturday night there was a furious trade in certificates - thank you all new Rhodes Polar Bears.

Rhodes Trail Run - still the only place on the planet where polar bears support vultures.

Recycling

A fair amount of cardboard is brought to Rhodes village for the run. Boxes containing bags, shirts, magazines, sherry...

To reduce landfill all the cardboard/paper waste was taken to 'Walkerbouts' where Dave Walker, using his home-built 'boer-maak-'n-plan' contraption 'converts' the waste into 'fire-blocks'.  

Every single one of you who contributed in any way, thank you. You are touching and improving lives in a remote corner of our country.

While the 2013 Rhodes runners enjoyed perfect running conditions on race day, earlier in the week the 25th anniversary crew enjoyed a slice or two of cake.   

Of course the 25 candles were in route profile, to match the crew shirts...

Thanks 'Walkerbouts' for the delicious kloof-sculptured cake. 

A few more images to rekindle memories -

	The Kloppershoekspruit near the foot of Mavis Bank - Steve Anderson
	Mavis Bank - Steve Anderson
	Iain Don-Wauchope leads through the Mavis Bank Farm Check Point - Sarah-Jane Boschmans
	Megan MacKenzie crests Mavis Bank - Greg Raubenheimer
	The Mavis Bank Cut-off blanket - Greg Raubenheimer