MEDIA ADVISORY:
News editors, Sport and Education Reporters
For immediate release
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Sport Division has collaborated with Discovery Vitality for the newly rebranded UJ Future Forward Fun Run scheduled for Saturday, 20 September 2025. This partnership brings a fresh burst of energy, Vitality fitness points, and a vibrant mix of Discovery Vitality’s pink to the streets of Auckland Park for a morning of healthy fun.
Tickets available here: UJ Future Forward Fun Run with Discovery Vitality 2025 | Online Entries
Formerly known as the UJ Future Walk, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better. It’s a fun, family-friendly event that brings together UJ staff, students, Joburg residents, and beginners or seasoned runners for a single, powerful cause: raising funds for academically deserving but financially needy UJ students.
“At Discovery Vitality, we are deeply committed to the transformative power of movement and its ability to enrich lives. Our partnership with UJ Sport for the Future Forward Fun Run is a celebration of wellness in action – uniting communities and driving positive change. Together, we are not just running; we are investing in the futures of deserving students and taking a meaningful stride toward a healthier, more empowered South Africa,” says Celeste Willams, head of marketing at Discovery Vitality.
Run for a Cause:
This dynamic fun run is a cornerstone of the university’s fundraising efforts, which began in 2015 following the “Fees Must Fall” movement. The campaign is dedicated to helping approximately 5,000 students cover registration and tuition fees – these are students who do not qualify for full government funding and also unable to fund their studies from their own pocket. Participants will follow a scenic route that connects the UJ Auckland Park Bunting Road and Kingsway campuses, making every step count toward a student’s future.
“UJ’s vision of a reimagined future is to assist all its academically deserving and financially needy students pay for their university education. This is part of our efforts to make a meaningful contribution to help where we can, to double our impact in helping more than 10,000 students. At the Future Forward Fun Run with Discovery Vitality, UJ Sport doesn’t only focus on fundraising, we also encourage our university community to be active and lead healthy lifestyles,” says Ms. Nomsa Mahlangu, Senior Director: UJ Sport.
Event Details:
The event offers a variety of distances suitable for everyone, including kids, youth, people with disabilities, and experienced runners.
- Gentle 2.5km: R80
- Popular 5km: R100
- Official CGA 10km: R120 with a licence (A temporary race license costs an additional R60)
The seventh annual event is proudly sponsored by Discovery Vitality and supported by Lucky Star, Spar, and Mentos. In addition to the run, participants will enjoy music, a morning breeze, and jumping castles for the younger crowd.
For daily updates, follow UJ Future Walk on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
About Vitality
Vitality is the largest global platform for behaviour change, underpinning the insurance products of leading insurers worldwide, impacting 30 million lives in over 40 markets. The Vitality model, established by Discovery Limited in South Africa, has been incentivising behaviour change among its clients for over 25 years. Vitality creates shared value by combining behavioural economics, clinical science, and financial incentives to encourage and reward members for taking steps to improve their health. The model began with a focus on health and wellness and has expanded to include short-term insurance, investments, and financial wellness
Ends.
Note to the media: For interview arrangements, please contact Mr. Collen Maepa on 011 559 1307 / cmaepa@uj.ac.za.
Issued by:
UJ Sport / Strategic Communications Department
