At the University of Pretoria (UP), excellence isn’t confined to lecture halls or laboratories – it’s also found in the hearts (and feet!) of staff who go the extra mile. In this case, literally…

On 8 June 2025, four UP staff members will run the gruelling 90km Comrades Marathon not just for the glory of crossing the finish line, but to raise funds for students in the “missing middle” – those who fall between the cracks of financial aid systems.

Meet Dr Bianca Frost, Mfundo Nyitana, Josiah Mavundla and Prof André Ganswindt – colleagues who are taking on South Africa’s toughest ultramarathon to support academically deserving students who do not qualify for NSFAS, yet cannot afford university fees. This often-overlooked group faces enormous financial stress and, without intervention, these students struggle to complete their studies.

Our four colleagues’ fundraising campaigns on BackaBuddy aim to raise money that will go directly to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Scholarship Fund, which provides bursaries for missing middle students, providing them with the support and opportunities they deserve.

This inspiring peer-to-peer fundraising campaign is more than just a race — it’s a call for solidarity. Now it’s our turn to go the distance by supporting our colleagues as they run for a cause close to all our hearts.

Support the cause – and pick a team!

Each runner represents a different department within UP, and this campaign is also sparking some friendly rivalry between them. Which team will top the fundraising leaderboard? The answer lies with you!

Pledge your support today by donating to your champion’s BackaBuddy campaign. Regardless of which team you choose, every donation helps level the playing field for deserving students who simply want a chance to succeed.

Meet our champions:

Dr Bianca Frost (Lecturer, Department of Marketing Management)

Support Bianca here

#TeamMarketingManagement

Mfundo Nyitana (Senior Development Specialist, Department of Institutional Advancement)

Support Mfundo here

#TeamDIA

Josiah Mavundla (Senior Manager: Advancement and Database, Department of Institutional Advancement)

Support Josiah here

Also #TeamDIA – but can he outpace Mfundo?

Prof André Ganswindt (Director – Mammal Research Institute)

Support André here

#TeamMRI

Whether you donate to one or all, your support helps transform the lives of deserving students and showcases the compassion and unity that define the UP community.

Which department will go the furthest? Let’s find out – and let’s do it together!

Make your donation today. Share their stories. Show that, at UP, we don’t let students run alone.

Thank you for being part of the heart of UP – on the road and beyond.

For more information on the fundraising campaign, or to become a champion, please contact Dagmar Kahn at [email protected].