The Pad Run, an NPO which supplies sanitary pads to under privileged young women in South Africa, started in July 2020 to celebrate the founder’s birthday, now welcomes new Board Members SPHEctacula & DJ Naves, current drive time radio hosts for Metro FM.
Each year, businesswoman, Farah Fortune would ask her friends and family to donate menstruation products & toiletries which she would then hand out to orphanages, girls’ homes and other NPOs. In 2020 Farah noticed the havoc the Covid- 19 Pandemic was having on young women’s access to sanitary pads and decided to formalise the initiative after raising R100 000 to buy sanitary pads through a social media campaign.
She organised a distribution run in Kimberley, Johannesburg and Cape Town to donate within areas in need. She then formalised the initiative and started The Pad Run Non- profit organisation (NPO) bringing her best friend, Jo Bodiba and sister- in law, Neimah Fortune on board.
Since July 2020, the ladies through The Pad Run not only ran distribution drives but also created ‘Period Pouch Workshops’ with Candice Chirwa, a menstruation health expert, as facilitator, educating people on menstruation, the stigmas thereof as well as basic education around the subject, with movies, practical demonstrations, dance and talks from local celebrities as well. The workshops were held with young men and women so as to ensure the message around menstruation reverberates to as many willing parties as possible.
The board now welcomes renowned DJ and radio hosts, Siphesihle Ngwenya & Lebogang Naves more commonly known as SPHEctacula & DJ Naves. These two industry heavy weights who have been vocal in their support of The Pad Run and its work over the past year, even helping them raise funds for initiatives and workshops in order to continue helping communities.
“We feel its time to speak loudly about the support young women & girls need for such essential menstrual items which are not always so easily available to them. Joining The Pad Run board is just one of the ways we want to show commitment to helping this cause & we’re excited about being able to participate in these conversations”.
The Pad Run will celebrate its first anniversary with a donation drive in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town on Sunday 18th July 2021. To get involved donations are welcome and just R10 buys one pack of sanitary pads for a girl in need.
To donate: FNB, K2020828476 (Trading as The Pad Run) Account: 62883373947 Branch code: 255355
For more information on The Pad Run contact Farah Fortune on info@thepadrun.com
