PE prepares for urban invasion

THE Port Elizabeth CBD will come alive with activity this weekend as more than 1500 participants tackle the city for the third annual Urban Run, a charity event hosted by the Mandela Bay Development Agency.

The Kids Urban Run, for children 15 years and under, takes place at 3pm on Saturday, while the sell-out feature Urban Run hits the streets from 9am on Sunday as an untimed 10km obstacle run.

In celebration of the city's urban renewal, a weekend festival of activities will take place at the Donkin Reserve from 9am on Saturday while all participants come to collect their race packs and goody bags.

Bay band Forget the Fall kick off the live music on the Kingfisher FM stage at 9am, while fitness enthusiasts are encouraged to attend the free-entry Metro Gym's outdoor aerobics class on the Donkin at 10am, where the first 30 to arrive will each receive a T- shirt and water bottle.

Rugby action from New Zealand will also be shown. Three for Freedom will take to the main stage later and members of the Friendly City German Shepherd Club will give an obedience and protection display with their dogs.

Soloist Faye Gatley will sing before the talented youth from the Ibhayi Rhythmic Gymnastics Club give their performance at 12.30pm.

While most relax in the beer garden, Shackle and Sherry and Perfect Horizon will be on the main stage before the 3pm start of the Kids Urban Run. Clair Venn will then keep the parents entertained and Ezingcanjini African Heritage will close the Saturday session.

On Sunday, Sovereign warm up the stage from 7am for PE funnyman Gino Fabbri, who will get the urban athletes ready from 8am.

Batch starts will begin from 9am, with 23 urban obstacles or landmarks along the route. There will be a massive daylight screen and two obstacles on the Donkin Reserve.

Seunewees and Troubadours will feature on the stage ahead of the noon prizegiving, where Gino Fabbri will be back in action to assist with the charity handover and lucky draw prizegiving.

Life Lyne will end off the Urban Festival on the Sunday afternoon.

There will be food stalls, craft vendors and exhibitors, and the Rotary Club of PE Sunrise has teamed up with Crickley Dairy to host the Kids Zone, a massive play area where kids can be left to play.

For further information on the Urban Run see www.urbanrun. co.za or call (041)484-7860.