August 19 2024 23:30

Balwin Sport, a division of JSE listed Balwin Properties, South Africa’s largest sectional title property developer, launched the Balwin Sport Marathon Series 2025, and gave away a fully furnished lifestyle apartment at Greencreek Lifestyle Estate in Pretoria East.
Participants who entered and completed any distance on race days, and visited any show apartment at
Balwin developments countrywide stood a chance of winning a fully furnished lifestyle apartment valued
at R800 000 including 12 months’ free levies. The more developments they visited the more entries they
received. Based on the significant interest, this competition will be extended to the 2025 Marathon series.
Steve Brookes, CEO and founder of Balwin said his company was driven by promoting healthy living.
“Our main objective through Balwin Sport is to connect communities and promote healthy and
sustainable lifestyles. The success of our inaugural marathon series this past year makes us very excited
about the future of road running in South Africa. We will be investing more than R3m in South African road running until 2034, with benefits flowing down from club level into supporting underprivileged and development athletes. The community camaraderie that these events have created surpassed our wildest expectations,” he said.
Launched in March 2023, Balwin Sport aims to promote a healthier lifestyle among clients, staff, and all
South Africans as the title sponsor of four of South Africa’s most iconic and oldest marathons.
Runners who participated and completed any of the race distances (5km, 10km, 21.1km or 42.2km) at the
Jeppe, Cape Peninsula, Phobians Pretoria and Dolphin Coast marathon and who visited any of Balwin’s
show apartments, qualified to win a fully furnished Balwin lifestyle apartment. Participants had more than
six months to boost their chances after the events.
Five finalists were selected for the draw that took place at Greencreek Lifestyle Estate in Pretoria East.
These finalists randomly drew keys that would unlock the apartment. Kerry Hill from KwaZulu-Natal
who completed the Dolphin Striders 10km race and visited both the Izinga and Ballito show apartments,
successfully unlocked the front door to her new, fully furnished lifestyle apartment, valued at more than
R800 000.
“I’ve never owned property before – this is truly life-changing. I’ve been wanting to get onto the
property ladder forever, and to now have a place I can call my own is absolutely wonderful! I would
strongly encourage runners entering the 2025 Balwin Marathon series to take their chance like I did,” said Hill.
Ryan Kalk, Joint-MD of the Balwin Foundation, who oversees Balwin Sport activities, said their initial
research showed that running as a sponsorship opportunity has potential to attract a wider range of buyers across various income bands, especially first-time buyers looking for a secure lifestyle living.
Data compiled following the four races reveal a 3% conversion rate from show apartment visits to new
sales because of participants visiting the developments after the race event. Typically, Balwin
developments attracts buyers in their 30s who normally purchase properties valued at R1m on
average.
The Greencreek Lifestyle Estate is a Green Collection and caters to entry-level buyers, with lifestyle
features including a Training Science Gym, concierge service, study lounge, laundromat, swimming pool
and children’s play areas. Apartments are priced from R629 900 and up to R1 259 900 for a three-bedroom apartment. Each lifestyle apartment comes with features including a Defy oven, hob and extractor fan, are fibre and Dstv ready, and includes prepaid utility meters.
Kalk said the Balwin Sports Marathon Series 2024 was a huge success attracting over 18,000 participants,
with each race targeting at least 6,000 entries. He said they hope the 2025 will attract at least 10,000
entries per race
Early registration for the Marathon Series 2025 opens on 25 August and closes the week of the race or
when the race capacity is reached. Early entries will receive a complimentary 12-week personalised
training programme from one of SA’s most renowned high-performance sports coaches, Coach Lindsey
Parry (normally priced at R675 per month), a quality T-shirt, a goody bag, free photo downloads, and a
medal, all valued at over R3 000. The 12-week training programme is valid for entries received before the
end of November 2024.
“We are excited to build on our past successes with the 2025 Marathon Series and look forward to
welcoming old and new runners as we continue to support and promote healthy lifestyles in South
Africa,” said Kalk.
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