When the competitors in this year’s PPC Cement Riebeeck Bergmarathon line up at the start early on the morning of Saturday, 01 August 2009 – they may find themselves rubbing shoulders with Hennie Vlok, co-founder of the event and a man who is running for 36 years.  

Vlok has run the PPC Cement Riebeeck Bergmarathon every year since its inception. In fact, competitors are likely to bump into the entire Vlok family, his brother, Johan; his son, Handré; and daughters, Ilse, Anneke and Marelize – because the whole family is passionate supporters of the race and the community.  

Vlok, who is not a PPC employee but a local farmer, has been active within the Riebeek community for over 40 years.  

PPC Cement has been sponsoring the race for the past 24 years, since 1985, building an enduring partnership with the community that has lasted for over two decades.   

Andrea Meyer, PPC’s public relations officer for the Coastal Region says, “Hennie is just one example of how the marathon brings the Riebeek Valley community together – whether it is as runners, organizers and/or those who run stalls and sell refreshments. The PPC Cement Riebeeck Bergmarathon hosts serious runners who compete in the 42.2km marathon, which is a Comrades Marathon qualifier, or the 21.1km half-marathon.” 

“We also have fun runners who enter the 10km run/walk or the 5km fun run/walk. These are open to organizations wanting to enter a team – the most popular being amongst schools in the 5km run/walk, where the school with the highest entrants will win a computer,” says Meyer.     

Last year, the Rondeheuwel Primary School won the computer prize, which was contributed to their school computer lab.  

The first 300 competitors over the 5km finish line will receive medals. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded dependent on the position in which the top athletes finish.   

Last year, 193 local and international athletes participated in the 42.2km marathon. The total number of entries was well over 2000. 

Vlok says, “The Riebeek community comes to life each year, bringing together old and young, rich and poor. As early as four ‘o clock in the morning, each year, the N7 highway (from Cape Town to Malmesbury) highway is full of activity as the runners, their seconds and families pour into the valley. We all run together in South Africa’s most beautiful valley – who could want more?”  

“As long as these legs will carry me, I will participate in the PPC Cement Riebeeck Bergmarathon,” Vlok says.   

Entries for the marathon closed on Monday, 20 July 2009.  For more information on the PPC Cement Riebeeck Bergmarathon, go to www.enteronline.co.za or www.ppc.co.za.  

Ends   

Please note the spelling difference between Riebeek Valley and the PPC Cement Riebeeck Bergmarathon:

-          Riebeek Valley is the community in which the race takes place.

-          PPC Riebeeck Bergmarathon refers to PPC’s factory.