Hundreds run for Mark

HUNDREDS of Westville residents gathered at the Chiltern Athletic Club on Tuesday evening in honour of a beloved Westville Boy High School pupil who is currently comatose.

Mark Johnston, a 15-year-old boy, was taking part in the running club’s Scratch Club 8km fitness run when he had a seizure. He collapsed and stopped breathing. Luckily a doctor was also taking part in the event and stopped to help him. He performed CPR until paramedics arrived. He has been in a coma since that evening.

One of his school friends, Jonty Ross, came up with an idea to have a run in Mark’s honour. “He loved to run and we organised this event on all social media platforms, in respect and in honour of him,” said Jonty.

The Chiltern Athletics Club organised road marshalls to cover the 2km and 5km routes on the evening.

“I would like to thank each and every person for coming out in support and in prayer. The kindness and generosity from the community at large has been overwhelming and I thank them all,” said Rob, Mark’s father.

The school’s principal, Trevor Hall, said that the run was a fantastic gesture of the community as the moral support was much needed. “He (Mark) deserves it. He has such a positive attitude and he always gives 100 per cent in everything that he does and that is why he has garnered all of this support.”