University of the Western Cape: Running For the Good Cause
The Exceptional Nurse (TEN) Campaign Night Run Series, in its fourth year in 2022, will start at 17h00 on Saturday from the Mouille Point Lighthouse in the Cape Town Promenade. Staff and students of the School of Nursing (SoN) at UWC, as well as members of the university community and friends, have many reasons to be eagerly awaiting the 7km race.
In addition to the many health benefits of road running, three UWC nursing students have already benefited financially towards their study fees, and the event has the potential to raise even more funds for the other disadvantaged students.
“The impact running has on one’s health and quality of life, especially cardiac health, is immense. By participating in the event, it means that bursaries can hopefully be awarded to more students as this event focuses on fundraising for bursaries for student nurses,” explained SoN Director, Professor Penelope Martin.
Prof Martin (pictured) has a passion for endurance running, “which truly is addictive”, and the TEN campaign has a longstanding relationship with the School of Nursing.
“I also believe road running is undervalued as it has many health benefits, especially for people working in an academic environment. For me, it is ‘me time’ when I connect with myself, run off the stressors of my work day and am able to function optimally. It has allowed me to meet like-minded people who have helped with my work/life balance.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDYING NURSING AT UWC
The Saturday event will be the first of many races throughout the country, and will be followed by a similar event in Johannesburg on 10 September, in Gqeberha, seven days later, and in Pretoria on 24 September. Durban and East London will host the last events of the year on 1 October and 8 October, respectively.
The vision of TEN Campaign is to see exceptional nursing care practices at every health care facility in South Africa. “The aim is to raise the status of the nursing profession by promoting a culture of honour and gratitude towards all. TEN Campaign hopes that when nurses are truly valued in society, they will respond with honour and respect to every patient,” Prof Martin added.
The Exceptional Nurse Award aims not only to honour the individual nurse, but also to promote exceptional nursing students as role models to their peers and society. “Competence, compassion, commitment and courage are the four qualities which are used to nominate deserving students for awards”.
The event is open to everyone and tickets are R100 for adults and R50 for children and student nurses. Members of the university community, their friends and families are encouraged to come out in their big numbers to participate – for the good cause.