Lennox starts his toilet paper story !
Get the Full Experience
ROAD RUNNING
Having begun work in the environmental tourism industry in 2005 and learnt his trade as a guide and tracker , Lennox currently works for Echo Africa in the Kruger National Park , and always brings his sense of humour to work when he takes visitors on game drives and bush walks . However , as much as he loves showing people the popular big five animals , he says visitors should make sure to get the full experience of the bushveld by taking a bush walk with a guide .
“ If you have an opportunity to go to the reserve for the wildlife experience , please make sure you do the walk , and move on the same level where the animals are . It is wonderful to see the elephant , but even better to walk where the elephant walks . The main aim of the walk is to see the signs , of where the lions and leopards walk , of where the elephants pull the trees over to eat , to talk about those termites , and all the different trees and bushes in the reserve ,” he says .
“ I don ’ t blame the agent for mainly marketing the big five , and telling people if they go to this area , they will see the big five , but take a walk and you see that it ’ s not just the big five animals , it ’ s also the ecosystem and the insects and things . I love telling people about the bushes and trees , letting them touch them , and see that you can use to make a toothbrush out of that one , or use this one if you need toilet paper in the bush . I especially enjoy seeing their faces when they are touching the toilet paper bush and I joke , hmmm , it looks like it ’ s already been used ! I see them laughing at the jokes , and I love that , but I also see them learning and understanding the bush better . It is wonderful to engage and connect with people like that .”
by more than 20 running friends , but also an official escort of a police vehicle and a fire engine , sent out to meet them by the Bushbuckridge Municipality . And when they arrived in their hometown , the Municipality also announced a donation of sanitary towels as well , adding to the growing pile of donations collected along the way from the various running clubs that joined them for a section of the run .
Lennox says the fundraising and call for donations actually far exceeded their expectations . “ We had many people following us on Facebook , including about 50 new friend requests each day , and every morning these followers would wake up and send us messages to wish us a good run , and pledging donations . The fundraising target was R60,000 , and we had reached that by halfway in the run , when we reached Middelburg . By the time we finished , we had gone past R100,000 , with R80,000 in cash donations , and donations of shoes and sanitary towels worth another R20,000 .” ( At the time of writing , the cash donations had climbed to over R104,000 !)
That will be the longest distance I have done in one day , and it will be very interesting because of all the marathon days leading up to it !”
In the meantime , Lennox has had his feet firmly up , taking a break from running for a full month after the 450km run . Looking ahead , he says he hopes the COVID lockdown restrictions will be reduced soon and races will once again be allowed , as he would
Lennox and Themba would welcome further donations to the cause , to help buy more school shoes and sanitary pads for the kids that need them love to go run one of his favourite races in March . “ My legs were fine after the run , but I was given advice to take a month off , and now they are well rested . I ’ m hoping my next race will be the Kosmos 3-in-1 in Secunda , and I am training for that . I ’ m hoping it can happen , if COVID allows , because it is good training for Comrades . You do your qualifier marathon in the morning , then add the 21 and 10 later in the day for good training .”
Images : Courtesy Lennox Mathebula
“ Themba had a dream and he made it happen . It was a great experience , and deep down from my heart , I ’ m saying thank you to all family and friends who supported us , and for being with us for the 450km distance in 12 days . You made it possible , and it shows that with friends , anything in life is possible . And I want to challenge every one of you by saying this : Do not dream your life , but live your dreams .”
More Running to Come
Given the success of this run , Lennox says they are already thinking of doing another fundraising run in the near future , probably in July to tie in with Mandela Day celebrations . “ We were supported in our 450km run by the Icons Journey Foundation from the Eastern Cape , and when we finished , they invited us to come do an eight-day run in the Eastern Cape , also running 42km each day , then 103km on the last day when we reach Qunu . That ’ s where Nelson Mandela was born and grew up , and if he was still alive , he would be 103 now , so that is why the last day will be 103km .
Donations Welcome !
If you would like to show your support for Themba and Lennox ’ s 450km Run 4 School Shoes and Sanitary Towels Challenge , you can visit https :// www . backabuddy . co . za / themba and add your pledge .
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