Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 145, Sept/Oct 2021 | Page 28

ROAD RUNNING

Hope with Every Step

When musician Kabelo Mabalane was made aware that one in four South African children under the age of five suffer stunted growth due to not receiving the correct nutrition at this crucial stage of their development , he knew he had to do something about it . That saw him and his business partner and well-known runner , Peteni Kuzwayo , undertake to run 600km from Johannesburg to Durban with the aim to raise R6-million to tackle the child hunger problem .

When planning their route , the intrepid duo decided that the first 16 days would see them cover 500km , covering an average of around 30km each day , and then they would end the journey by running the famous 90km Comrades Marathon route from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on the final day . That would make for a gruelling finish , but considering what the pair were running for , it seemed a small price to pay .

They duly left from Old Mutual Place in Sandton on 7 September , and by the time they had reached Maritzburg 16 days later , they had raised R1,188,434 , which would provide meals to 10,000 children for a year . Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site just outside Howick , Kabelo reflected on the journey so far , saying , “ The capture Site emphasises and reminds me of the principles of selflessness for the greater good . We must never shy away from putting our lives on the line for a purpose bigger than ourselves .”
Speaking about what awaited the pair the following day , Peteni added that , “ Ending on the Comrades Route is a hard path for both of us , but it is nothing compared to what the children we are running for have to endure . You are never going to understand what hunger is until you experience it yourself , and our pain tomorrow will be a symbol to show what they go through .”
CORPORATE SUPPORT
The main sponsor of the run was Old Mutual , which contributed R1,1 million to the campaign . “ For over 175 years , Old Mutual has been committed to championing mutually positive features every day , and we will continue to power initiatives that demonstrate that the small steps you take today , will enable you to do great things ,” said Thobile Tshabalala , Head of Brand at Old Mutual .
Kelloggs also came on board to support the duo , with a donation of R265,000 , saying that the donation was in line with its key purpose of addressing food security for communities . Head of External Relations , Zandile Mposelwa , said , “ Alleviating hunger is about more than providing food , it ’ s about enabling children ’ s potential .”
Shoprite also came to the party , donating a further R50,000 to the cause as the pair made their way into the KZN Province , giving them extra motivation to get to that finish line . “ Shoprite ’ s support has certainly put a bounce in my step , specifically because they share our commitment to ensuring that pre-schoolers get access to adequate nutrition ,” said Kabelo .
CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
Ending on a double high , the Kabelo and Peteni reached their finish line in Durban having raised an impressive R2,285,915 , which has been donated
to Joint Aid Management ( JAM ), an international food relief organisation that provides daily meals for 120,000 children across the country .
Undeterred about missing their original fundraising target , the running duo are now hosting the Hope with Every Step Crave Run Half Marathon and 10km on the 23rd of October 2021 in Johannesburg . Real events have been few and far between in the COVID era , and this new race offers Joburg runners not only an opportunity to get racing again , but also an opportunity to help support early childhood development , as the money raised by the event will also go towards Kabelo and Peteni ’ s fundraising target .
With as many as one out of three South African children facing hunger and malnutrition daily , the resulting impairment to the physical and mental development of young school-going children could create an even bigger problem for our society in the future . To support the fight against this , you can enter the 2021 Hope with Every Step Crave Run and add a donation to your entry fee . ( See the next page for more info .)
28 ISSUE 145 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za