Bob Skinstad, Robbie Fleck, Tank (Andrew) Lanning, Matthew Pearce and Marius Schoeman make up the Sport4Good team. They will be tracked and traced throughout the race using MiX Telematics’ cellphone tracking technology so that fans and Twitter followers can track their progress during the race.

Catherine Lewis, marketing director for MiX Telematics (International), says the celebrity riders will be equipped with smartphones running a MiX Telematics application that allows them to be tracked in real-time via GPRS. Sport24 will host a ‘leader-board’ on its website and position information on the riders’ progress will be available via an online MiX Telematics software application.

 

“Our apps are integrated with Twitter,” says Lewis, “so as the celebs achieve key milestones along the route, like the top of Edinburgh Drive or the start of Chappies, a message will automatically be Tweeted to the celebs’ followers from their personal Twitter accounts.” 

 

Sport24 commercial manager, David Brooke expressed his excitement around the initiative: “From a Sport24 point of view, this is something extremely new which we are exploring and we are looking forward to offering our readers something so innovative yet fun at the same time all in the name of charity. Let’s just hope the wind is also charitable on the day for our riders otherwise those km/h speeds won’t be the most attractive you have ever seen.”

 

 

MiX Telematics and Sport24 will promote the charity via Twitter and Facebook, encouraging people to support the foundation with donations. MiX Telematics will host a hospitality tent for clients, celebs, family and friends, where live maps and Twitter feeds will be displayed on big screens showing the position of the riders throughout the day. To encourage monetary donations from the public, prizes that include signed rugby balls, merchandise and hampers will be distributed through lucky draws and spot giveaways.

 

Fans, Twitter followers and spectators will also have the option to participate in a competition being held by Sport24, to guess which celebrity will reach the finish line first.

 

“We are expecting a really fun-filled day and are proud to have partnered up with Sport24 for such a worthy cause,” concludes Lewis.

 

The Bobs for Good Foundation was founded by Bob Skinstad and lifelong friend, Ron Rutland. The establishment was born out of the need to restore dignity and pride in underprivileged children, by giving the gift of hope – a pair of quality school shoes to care for and call their own.