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Track-A-Thon, sewing for the underprivileged

Track-A-Thon, sewing for the underprivileged

Date: 2013-06-07
Track-A-Thon is an organisation of willing people from the community who have come together since the year 2000 to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged Children from all over Durban by sewing tracksuits for these kids every winter. This is an Initiative started by Joan Chalmers.

They receive fabric that is either donated or bought. The tracksuit used to be cut by Joan and her fellow team members when they first began, it was cut with scissors and a semi industrial cutter, this was a long laborious task and it took days.

Since the closing down of many textile factories in South Africa and with the importing of fabric from the East, there have not been many donations of Fabric in recent years. Joan uses much of her own money to help fund this Project, which is close to her heart. This year's Track-A-thon was held at Gateway and it was a success with over 1000 tracksuits sewn.

Debbie Becker from Bernina Durban North has been helping since the very beginning. She has seen over 14 000 tracksuits being sewn and then distributed. Today both her sons, Ivor who is 20 years old and Sean who is 18, help with the event.

The sponsors this year included gateway, Bernina, Spar, Mug & Bean, Mimmo's, Panarotti's, H2O, Hair by Ash, CityChics, The Nail Bar, Sitara Laine, Mrs Kumarie Govender, Kevin Hsu, McDonalds, Berzacks, MC Thompson, Health & Beauty Court, Bridal Moments, LaConcierge Events and Starwood Ladies Support group.

Those who want to help, but cannot sew, can help with neatening and packing. Joan wants to expand this project but unfortunately does not have a lot of money to do so. Those who wish to donate or contribute in anyway can call Joan on 031 564 1319.