Our Mission

We believe sport has the power to change communities. On Umhlali Padel Day, Umhlali Prep, Local Real Estate, and Karibu Padel are taking that belief one step further with Play It Forward — a sponsored fundraising initiative that brings our players, their families, and the wider Umhlali community together in support of a school that deserves every resource we can give them.

Every lap run. Every rand pledged. Every child who benefits from a better-equipped classroom. That is Play It Forward.

Laps Around the Macs:

Alongside the Padel Americano and fishing competition on the day, participants — kids and adults alike — will be invited to run laps around the macadamia trees on the property. This is our Laps Around the Macs challenge.

The concept is simple: parents, family members, and supporters pledge a sponsorship amount per lap completed by their child or chosen participant. The more laps run, the more funds raised for Thembeni Primary School.

There is no minimum or maximum pledge — every contribution counts, and every lap matters.

How It Works:

Step 1 — Sign Up

Register your child (or yourself) as a Laps Around the Macs participant on the day. Each participant will receive a lap tracking card.

Step 2 — Get Sponsored

Ask parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends — anyone who wants to support — to pledge a rand amount per lap. Sponsorship can be:

1. A flat amount per lap (e.g. R5 per lap)
2. A once-off donation regardless of laps
3. Any amount — there is no minimum

Step 3 — Run the Macs

On the day, participants run as many laps as they can around the macadamia trees. Each completed lap is recorded on their tracking card.

Step 4 — Collect & Contribute

After the event, sponsors are contacted with the final lap count and banking details to make their contribution. All funds are paid directly to the Thembeni Primary School account.

Where the Funds Go:

100% of funds raised through Play It Forward go directly to Thembeni Primary School to support classroom resources, including:

1. Stationery and learning materials
2. Books and educational resources
3. Classroom equipment and furniture where needed
4. Any additional resources identified by the school

We are committed to full transparency. A summary of funds raised and how they were distributed will be shared with all participants and sponsors after the event.

The Bigger Picture

Umhlali Padel Day is more than a sports event. It is a demonstration of what a community can achieve when it comes together with purpose. Through padel, fishing, and running laps around the macs, we are building something that extends far beyond the courts — a culture of giving back, of playing it forward, and of investing in the children who will carry our community into the future.

Thank you for being part of it.

The Team Behind This Initiative:

Play It Forward would not be possible without the commitment of three organisations who share a belief in community, sport, and giving back:

1. Umhlali Prep — providing the heart, the school community, and the space for this event to come alive.
2. Local Real Estate — our title sponsor, whose generous support makes Play It Forward possible.
3. Karibu Padel — bringing the padel expertise, energy, and passion for growing the sport in our community.

Three organisations. One shared purpose. Proof that when the right people come together, extraordinary things happen.