ROTARY GREATEST TRAIN RACE 2010

The 2010 Rotary Greatest Train Race which was presented by the Rotary Clubs of Middelburg, Witbank, and Middelburg Cycad took place on 21 August 2010. More than 19 000 people entered into the different aspects of the race (Individual 29km runners, Individual 15km walkers, Running teams, walking teams). Unfortunately only about 14 000 people finished the race. This was perhaps due to the cold highveld morning and somewhat due to the fact that cut off times were imposed as the organisers were required to open the road at 13h00.

Notwithstanding some hiccups the Race was again a great success as a team building and community building event- the largest in Mpumalanga, and perhaps one of the largest in the country. We will only know during this week what funds will be available for distribution into the community, and we trust that the target of R 1 million was achieved.

One of the most heart rendering moments of the 2010 race was to see young Samantha ( a girl recovering from a muscular degenerative disease) in her wheelchair accompanied by her mother and sister, reliving 2 years of participation in the train race when she could run.

The title sponsors (Anglo-coal, BHP Billiton, Optimum and Shanduka) and all other sponsors and participants deserve a great thanks for their contribution to the success of the race.

In addition there was support to the organising Rotary Clubs by Rotarians from Pretoria-West, White River and Louis Trichardt who worked as marshall at the changeovers.

Well done to AG Jan Botha (Convenor) and the entire organising committee.
A special word of thanks needs to go to the unsung heroes of the train race. These include the teams from Collisen Electrical and Wolma who are responsible for the erection and dismantling of crowd barriers at the changeovers and the finish as well as the cleanup on the road, as well as all the people responsible for preparing the start and finish areas in the days before the event