Kariega – Welcoming 1 897 runners at their Kariega plant, Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) hosted a successful VW Health Care Run this past weekend.

The event, held on Saturday 10 May, was the third annual VW Health Care Run and offered distances of 5km, 10km and 21,1km to entrants, with all three routes including a portion that ran through the production plant itself.

The top finishers were:

  • 5km:
    • Female: Shaylin O’Grady (0:24:00); Aluta Vena (0:24:22); Keisha Harker (0:25:01)
    • Male: Andre Ketchem (0:17:27); Asonge Mtana (0:17:41); Janco Landman (0:18:01)
  • 10km:
    • Female: Ntombesintu Mfunzi (0:38:42); Kelly van Vliet (0:38:59); Desnay O’Grady (0:40:17)
    • Male: Melikhaya Frans (0:30:03); Sinethemba Jilingisi (0:30:13); Masixole Xayiya (0:31:17)
  • 21,1km:
    • Female: Refeloe Solomons (1:24:15); Bianca Meistre (1:26:05); Kayla van Rensburg (1:28:20)
    • Male: Andile Motwana (1:06:07); Sibahle Maqwara (1:08:15); Sinawo Poti (1:09:14)

The race was also part of the International Health Care Run held across 20 Volkswagen sites worldwide each year. To date, the run has welcomed 4 390 participants from the VWGA workforce and larger Nelson Mandela Bay community.

“Given that production has been on hold recently to allow for upgrades in the plant for the third model, seeing so many people in Plant Kariega was a refreshing and welcome sight,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWGA. “It is a point of pride to be able to share a closer look at our plant with the community, and to see them participate and support this initiative.”

The aim of the Health Care Run is primarily to promote a healthy lifestyle, though the proceeds from the race will also support the community as it will be donated to Eastern Province Athletics (EPA).

“It was amazing to see the support from our employees and from the community,” said Russell Coleman, VWGA’s Human Resources Director. “We are proud to host this annual event and contribute in a small way to the health and wellbeing of all participants. Thank you to all who participated, and of course to the colleagues from VWGA’s Wellbeing Hub, PeoplePavilion and the VW Amateur Athletics Club, who worked tirelessly to make this event a success.”