Computershare launched Change a Life in South Africa in 2008 to help combat the scourge of crime and to strive for a hopeful future for all South Africans. Change a Life currently supports three grassroots projects aimed at crime detection and prevention as well as providing training and leadership skills for talented youngsters in difficult social and economic circumstances. Funds raised by Change a Life South Africa are channelled via the Mike Thomson Change a Life Trust, which was set up to help combat crime following the tragic murder of senior Computershare manager Mike Thomson in September 2007.
Change a Life’s primary fundraiser is the annual Change a Life Cycle. The inaugural cycle event took place in September 2008 along the Zambezi River and attracted 81 senior company executives, who each contributed R20 000 to Change a Life. Computershare matched all funds donated rand for rand, raising R2.3 million in total after costs.
The 2009 Change a Life Cycle, in partnership with Rovos Rail, took place from 10 to 15 September 2009 and raised an additional R3.5 million for the Change a Life Trust. Sixty company executives embarked on a five-day “Mystery Tour”, which took them via Rovos Rail to the Orange Free State, parts of the Northern Cape and through some of Lesotho’s most gruelling mountain passes, all in aid of combating crime.
The 2010 Change a Life Cycle takes part in the warm heart of Africa, Malawi. Participants will cycle to the beat of Africa alongside the continent’s third largest lake on this spectacular five-day tour, which takes place from 3 – 8 September.