Comrades wants your old running shoes

Wednesday, 29 September 2010 08:05

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CMA donation of used running shoes

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) embarked on a simple but splendid community-enhancing initiative during the 2010 ‘Ultimate Human Race Day’. Having already partnered with meaningful charities like the Wildlands Trust, Community Chest, Starfish Greathearts Foundation, Pink Drive and The Sports Trust, the CMA decided to take its charitable outreach programme one step further, by encouraging Comrades runners from all over the world to drop off their used running shoes at the Amabeadibeadi stands during registration in Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

These shoes would then be donated to underprivileged runners, some of whom are beneficiaries of the Comrades Marathon Underprivileged Runners Programme which assists runners with accommodation, food and transport during the ultra-marathon.

Whilst some may scoff at such a gesture, only those who were present at the handover of the used shoes will remember the big broad smiles of the recipients and the urgent need for such a donation. The ‘shoe-drive’ also received a boost when One World Running, an international endeavour that  promotes health, fitness and nutritional awareness by providing running shoes to poor people worldwide, donated about a hundred pairs of shoes, both new and used.

Disadvantaged runners from four running clubs in KwaZulu-Natal benefitted from the charitable drive, as many of these individuals are unable to afford good quality running shoes. Among them were Gods Golden Acre Running Club, Umtubatuba Athletic Club, Umhlathuze Athletic Club and the Mamba Athletic Club.

Says CMA General Manager Mr Gary Boshoff, ‘What many of us take for granted is usually out of reach for many of our underprivileged fellow South Africans. The Comrades Marathon has long been a symbol of camaraderie and fellowship. We aim to live the values enshrined in what we call the indomitable Comrades spirit’.  

He adds, ‘We would like to thank all those runners who opened their hearts and shoe cupboards and contributed to the worthwhile cause’.  

Chairman of Gods Golden Acre Athletic Club, Mr Sihle Ngidi says, ‘We are very grateful to the Comrades Marathon Association for this kind gesture. We have many great runners who unfortunately can not afford good quality running shoes every year. This donation has put a smile on the faces of these runners because now they will have one less thing to worry about.’

Ngidi adds, ‘Some of these runners now own a good pair of running shoes for the very first time in their lives. God works in many wonderful ways.’

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