THIS WILL BE  THE 28th ANNUAL BLUE CROSS FUNDRAISER

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The sponsorship that YOU, the participants, raise helps the SPCAs of Zimbabwe survive. 

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We are SO grateful,  BUT we also know you are going to love this event. See you this year at sunset in the Save riverbed! 

GO FOR GOLD!

Raise $600:Earn your Gold Medal. 

$400, and take the Silver.

$200 to get a Bronze. 

PLEASE NOTE: All funds raised doing this event must go to the Blue Cross, and participants may not, under any circumstances, divert funds to other charities. 

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THE CHALLENGE

To take part in an AMAZING 500km remote endurance event like no other,  for a cause like no other, in order to raise money for the continued survival of all the branches of the SPCA throughout Zimbabwe. (The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).  The original Blue Cross was a solo event, but it has evolved into a

multi-disciplined event, that will appeal to everyone who loves animals, a physical challenge and off road adventure.

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"Qui Curat Vincit"   Who CARES wins.

                    YOUR SUPPORT SPONSORSHIP DEPOSITS MAY BE MADE AS FOLLOWS:

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FOR EASY OUTSIDE COUNTRY PAYMENTS

 https://www.backabuddy.co.za/blue-cross-2022

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PAYMENTS TO CABS NOSTRO ACCOUNT : CABS Gold Class,  Account Name : Blue Cross,  Account Number : 1128265591

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PAYMENTS TO CABS $ZW ACCOUNT: CABS Gold Class, Account Name : Blue Cross, Account Number: 1004599471

 

We also accept WORLD REMIT  transfers. Please specify CASH PICK UP, for us to take advantage of the US$:Zim$ Bond note differential. The donor will need your full name and ID number. There is a time limit for collection, after which the funds are returned to the source. If you would prefer not to collect, contact the email below, and Mutare SPCA will collect, and allocate to you.

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Participants raise sponsorship to cycle, walk, relay, run solo, combo discipline (hybrid) and cross country motorcycle (Enduro) from the lowest point in Zimbabwe, The Save–Runde Confluence (162m Above Sea Level) to the highest point,  Mt Nyangani (2,593m ASL.) 

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The Blue Cross is not a race, but rather an endurance challenge through some of the remotest parts of Zimbabwe. Orienteering by GPS, sleeping under the stars on some nights, meeting the rural people en route, and taking part in a cracking 500km safari of your own, for a great cause. On completion, awards of Gold, Silver or Bronze Medals are given, not based on event placing, but on the amount of money raised for this deserving and beleaguered countrywide charity.

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As the event offers various  disciplines, the START DATES VARY.  We have some suggested start dates on the Home Page and FAQs (General) but please contact us for more specific info from our experienced participants. We will help you work out the ideal start date for your Blue Cross, but the Walking Relay this year will see us camping near the Save Runde confluence for a start on 30 July 2023, and the Cyclists will most likely be gathering on 1 August for a 2 August early start. YOU can start whenever it suits you, but we all finish together.  Take from a week to three weeks, but we will see you all on Monday 7th August 2023 at the base of Mount Nyangani.  If you are a long distance runner, we will need to know how many kilometers you can do per day. 

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For cyclists and solo walkers or runners, it is a tough and challenging Ultra Distance Adventure.  This year we are expecting a number of ultra distance runners, for whom entering this type of event usually costs a large amount of money. Our event involves a small entry fee, and your sponsorship is donated to the SPCA as well as other equally deserving Animal Welfare organisations. Self-navigating 500kms of Eastern Zimbabwe, sometimes sleeping rough, come on!  Sign up for this remote and wild adventure.  Its an event that is gaining momentum in popularity and interest.

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The Blue Cross is more about what YOU make of it.  Either way, its an outstanding experience that requires grit and teamwork, determination and a positive spirit. For many people thinking about doing it for the first time, the self-supporting aspect is possibly a worry. You must have a back up vehicle, GPS and camping gear. 

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We recommend where to start, and how far to cover each day. For the WALKING RELAY & MTB , if you start on the same day as the BLUE CROSS COMMITTEE TEAMS, you can end up alongside experienced participants. You will camp where we camp. Rise at first light, and the day begins again. 

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The rest is simple.

Just say it: I AM DOING THE BLUE CROSS THIS YEAR!  It's the hardest step you will take. 

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WE want YOUR country's FLAG TO FLY FOR YOU at the beginning and the end of the whole event. 

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The Reason

It's no secret that all the SPCA's in Zimbabwe have been battling the odds to survive.  What is sure is that  life in a country without an SPCA  animal rescue centre is unthinkable. The Mutare SPCA has taken over the driving of the Blue Cross since 2015, and each year it gets a little more challenging for us, and thankfully, a little more lucrative for all the SPCA's of Zimbabwe.   It's critical that each centre gets its community motivated, and committed to the Blue Cross FOR THEM.  

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Please, if you are from Bulawayo, Kadoma, Marondera, Zvishavane, Kwekwe/Redcliffe, Masvingo or Harare, consider doing this amazing event. It will take you to parts of the country you would never normally go to, places of great beauty and remoteness, and you will have done one of the finest things ever, for one of the finest causes ever. Of course, wherever you are in the world, we'd love you to come and do the Blue Cross for Zimbabwe SPCA's.

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While in its first manifestation, The Blue Cross was a super tough, rugged event for only fools and heroes, but it has had to morph to stay alive. So if you workout and run daily, or walk regularly and are of positive and adventurous spirit, we have a niche for you. The most difficult part of the event is when you have read this... and you contact us to say you would like to do it. We are there for you. We will help you experience something everyone who lives in this country, or ONCE lived in this country, or loves this country should do.

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For the animals of Zimbabwe to have a safe and kind and honourable option in their lives --- Do it for them.

"WHO CARES WINS"

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Sponsorship Levels and Registration Fee

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PLEASE USE THIS WEBSITE TO ACCESS THE EXCHANGE RATE OF THE DAY: www.marketwatch.co.zw

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Non Zimbabwe participants pay registration and sponsorship in US DOLLARS. 

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REGISTRATION:

All participants must pay Registration fees of USD 50.00.  This will cover registration and the camping fees for the official campsites used along the route. 

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Seconders:  Seconders are not required to pay Registration fees. Please book Chimanimani, Mutare and Nyanga yourself.

PARTICIPATING SECONDERS will be required to register and raise sponsorship.
 

SPONSORSHIP:

MINUMUM  USD 200.00. Bronze Medal. USD400. Silver Medal. USD 600. Gold Medal.

 Funds must be handed in before the cut off date.  We (all the SPCAs of Zimbabwe) are so grateful to participants for asking family, friends and corporates for sponsorship.  An interactive spreadsheet that is used for detailing the  funds raised by each participant can be found on this web site.  

ALL FUNDS RAISED MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH A PRINT OUT OF THIS SPREADSHEET.

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THIS YEAR, 2023, Summit Day is Monday 7th AUGUST

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Other awards are:

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• The Spirit of the Blue Cross Award for the participant exhibiting the greatest commitment to the ideals of the event.

• The Datvest Floating Trophy for the most sponsorship raised.

• The Cecil the Lion Floating Trophy for the most sponsorship raised by a relay team member.

• The Blue Cross Trophy for the Fastest Aggregate Time in the competitive Men's MTB discipline.

• The RM Insurance Trophy for the Fastest Aggregate Time in the competitive Women's MTB discipline.

• The Maguires Trophy for the Fastest Aggregate Time in the competitive Heavy Infantry discipline.

• The Manyatella Trophy for the Fastest Aggregate Time in the competitive Light Infantry discipline.

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The Route of the Blue Cross has to be reinvented annually, to keep it challenging and fresh (and ultimately do-able) for repeat Blue Crossers, but also to steer clear of increased traffic. No coke and buns event for us!  Read all about it on our Blog on this website.

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