Idyllic scenery, adventurous trails and all in the name of charity have seen the SPAR Knysna Forest Marathon experience exponential growth over its 38-year existence.
The marathon that traverses the Knysna Forest and its breathtaking views commenced in 1984 and formed part of the first Oyster Festival, known as the Knysna Winter Festival at the time.
The popular marathon, initially the Willards Knysna Forest, started with a couple of hundred runners but by 2022 the race boasted more than 6,500.
One of the event organisers, Bailey Neil, said the marathon was all about giving back to the community with four nominated charities receiving funding and several other NGOs benefiting in various ways. .
“The Knysna Marathon Club selects our event charities, as we operate in a small community.
“The donations you make as well as the proceeds from the sale of the charity tickets get split between these charities for 2023,” Neil said.
“The event brings more than 15,000 visitors to the beautiful town of Knysna and in 2023 we are expecting close to 7,000 runners”
The event is held annually and coincidences with the Knysna Oyster Festival which has continually benefited the town’s economy as well as Garden Route vendors who sell their produce.
The marathon has six official sponsors on board, among them Hi-Tec.
Hi-Tec brand manager Louise White said: “We’re excited to be part of this popular race again.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us as we support healthy living through sports.
“Being part of such events also allows us to engage with our customers and we can’t wait to see everyone out there having fun and pushing their limits.”
Entry for the race, set for July 8, closed in May.
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