ROAD RUNNING
PROJECT RUN PUTS PAIRS ON FEET
Lolo Ndlovu the man behind The Sneaker Shack and Project Run .
The Sneaker Shack was started in 2017 by the sneaker-loving Lolo Ndlovu , with the goal of changing the way people think about footwear hygiene . The first store opened in the heart of the Maboneng Precinct , and today there are 11 stores around South Africa , collectively cleaning over 50,000 pairs of sneakers a year . “ We ’ re basically a sneaker laundry service . We were crazy enough to assume that people love their shoes clean , and it turns out we got that right !” says Lolo .
“ What we ’ ve also realised during this journey is that a lot of people have shoes they no longer use , and don ’ t want to keep , including some really good running shoes , and out of that Project Run was born . We realised that we could actually do something with these pre-loved shoes , as we call them , so we started collecting sneakers across all of our stores , and through partnerships with sneaker retailers , athletes or celebrities , with the goal to put them on as many young kids ’ feet as possible ,” he adds .
Lolo says that working with Jaryd , Emma and the PEaK team on Project Run has taken the initiative to a new level . “ They have something phenomenal going on in the athletic world , with huge passion for developing athletes at grassroots level . We play our part by supplying the sneakers , while they provide the coaching , and the dream is to have at least one of these development guys competing at the highest level at some point .”
More info at https :// thesneakershack . co . za / pages / project-run .
that there ’ s an opportunity where they can assist us in helping educate these kids . We ’ re still figuring out that process , but a long-term goal is the education of these kids – making sure that they ’ re in school , that they ’ re doing their homework , and that they ’ re passing matric . Because then there ’ s opportunity . If they ’ ve got athletic ability , they also have potential to get scholarships , to go study overseas and perform at the highest level , but unfortunately , they can ’ t do that if they haven ’ t passed matric .
Young and old ( er ), with Wandisile Nongodlwana of PEaK in the mix .
Sure , I think there ’ s a lot of moving parts to this project , but we ’ ve got the consistency , and we have the ability to keep driving it . I think that ’ s what ’ s important here is that we ’ re not relying on people to fund this project , because it is effort- and passion-based . If there is potential for growth thanks to financial support , then that ’ s awesome , but we ’ re going to keep doing what we ’ re doing based off what we can commit to , and that ’ s the resources of time and effort . And putting running shoes on runners ’ feet .
Event Director Jaryd Browne of PEaK with one of the young runners .
This youngster brought his toy car along for the run .
Images : Matthew Bates / Project Run
Some of the PEaK volunteers doing timekeeping duties at the finish .
PAY IT FORWARD Want to pass on those running shoes that you no longer use ? Drop off your less-worn , previously loved sneakers at any Sneaker Shack or Totalsports branch , at the designated drop point . The Sneaker Shack will clean all donated shoes and make look and feel new again , then will pass them on in the hopes that running is kept alive , and the youth continue to feel empowered through sport . More info at https :// thesneakershack . co . za / pages / project-run . ( If you would like to request a sneaker donation box for your office , get in touch by emailing ask @ thesneakershack . co . za .)
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