Co-founded by Stan Kozlowski and Mervyn Bremner, the 8 Mile Club has raised more than R12 million for various charities since its inception in 2004. Beneficiaries have included the WildTrust (formerly Wildlands Conservation Trust), the Childhood Cancer Association (CHOC), CANSA, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the Dusi-Umngeni Conservancy Trust (DUCT), the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Trust, PinkDrive, and Singakwenza – an early childhood education programme.

After raising more than R4 million for various charities at the 2019 aQuellé Midmar Mile, the 8 Mile Club is now venturing into wilder waters to raise funds for eco-tourism and marine conservation along a 22 km stretch of the Wild Coast earmarked for heavy minerals mining by an Australian mining company.

This stretch of coastline falls within a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and deserves all the protection it can get. Like Pat Goss, a co-founder of Rand Banking group and former chairman of the Natal Parks Board (now Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife), we respect the right of indigenous land owners to decide what happens on land that is rightfully theirs and believe that effective and sustainable eco-tourism development along the Wild Coast could ultimately be a far more profitable and healthier option than heavy minerals mining for people living along this pristine stretch of coastline.

We also support the great work being done by WildOceans on the marine conservation front, particularly in highlighting the importance of MPAs and the associated campaign to advance the protection of the oceans around South Africa – with the vision of securing 10% MPAs in line with international commitments.

And we are avid fans of Roving Reporters environmental journalism training programme, in particular its Ocean Watch series which focuses on critical issues affecting the health of the oceans.