The PONDO Trail Run is back from 28 May to 1 June 2025, giving trail runners a rare opportunity to experience one of the most unspoiled coastlines on the planet – all while supporting meaningful causes. Once again, Cipla is lacing up as a proud partner, joining forces with the Cipla Foundation’s Miles for Smiles initiative and the Pondoland Conservation Trust to make a difference where it counts.
So, what makes the PONDO Trail Run so special? For starters, it’s not your average jog through the park. This three-stage trail run takes place along the remote northern stretches of the Wild Coast, a region so rich in biodiversity that it boasts over 150 plant species found nowhere else on Earth. Think jaw-dropping scenery, rugged terrain, and a proper adventure; all for a brilliant cause.
“This will be the fourth consecutive year that Cipla is participating in this event, not just to help preserve the jaw-droppingly beautiful Pondoland coast, but also to help make a tangible difference in local communities,” says Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla South Africa.
The “tangible difference” he’s talking about? Life-changing surgeries. Proceeds from the event will directly benefit Operation Smile South Africa, an organisation that provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries to children in need. Last November, the Wild Child Africa team joined a surgical programme at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, where medical teams performed eight cleft lip surgeries, 14 cleft palate surgeries, and one fistula repair. Alongside the surgical missions, an impressive 885 patients received vital dental care through a parallel outreach programme.
Tim Botha, director of Wild Child Africa, saw the impact first-hand. “The impact of these missions is profound,” he says. “Standing alongside Cipla at the Mthatha surgical program, witnessing the smiles that our fundraising efforts made possible, was incredibly powerful. We are honoured to continue supporting this work through the 2025 PONDO Trail Run.”
But Cipla’s role doesn’t end there. This year, they’re also sponsoring on-site paramedic support, including the much-loved “Cipla Blister Bar”, where trail-worn feet can get the TLC they deserve after a hard day on the trails.
And while all those miles are helping to bring smiles, the event is also fiercely committed to conservation. Funds raised support the Pondoland Conservation Trust, which promotes sustainable eco-tourism and works with local communities to protect this ecologically fragile stretch of coastline.
So, whether you’re a seasoned trail runner or just want to get involved in something bigger than yourself, the 2025 PONDO Trail Run promises the adventure of a lifetime with a whole lot of heart.
For more info, visit www.wildchildafrica.com
To learn more about Miles for Smiles, head to Cipla Foundation’s page (https://www.cipla.co.za/cipla-foundation/miles-for-smiles)
