Tongaat runner nears halfway point of South African adventure

Intrepid Tongaat running dynamo, Amisha Lahldas, currently completing the daunting mission of running along South Africa’s coastline and borders, reached Ballito to rapturous applause from her running buddies last week.

Amisha (54) is part of the Fo4rHope GMF charity campaign, in which 6 runners aim to complete the distance of our country’s borders (6 803km) in just 60 days.

The team stopped over in Durban for a brief rest break last Wednesday, giving KwaZulu-Natal runners the opportunity of catching up with family and friends.

At a joyous reunion at Concha last Friday, Amisha was met by her daughter Nisha and the Fun Tribe running group, of which she is a member.

“She is an absolute inspiration and we are beyond proud of her. We will continue supporting her on this amazing adventure,” said Fun Tribe member, Charmaine Diamond.

And what an adventure it has been so far.

Aside from Amisha having to be briefly hospitalised for dehydration earlier last month, one of the original 6 runners had to drop out with an injury, leaving the remaining 5 to cover even more distances.

“We are taking it in our stride and staying positive. It’s only another 6 or 7km a day, so we are very much up for the challenge. The organisers have also been very supportive, offering to walk some of the distance if we really need a break,” said Amisha.

It is that attitude which has endeared Amisha to the North Coast running community.

“Sometimes we run from Holla (at Sugar Rush Park) as a group. We will all arrive and begin warming up, just to find that Amisha has run there from Tongaat to meet us. She is living proof that dynamite comes in small packages,” said Diamond.

The Fo4rHope GMF group now looks towards leg 4, which takes them to Musina in Limpopo.

During this leg, the runners will pass the halfway point of the journey.

From there, it is all systems go, with the team hoping to finish on New Year’s Eve in Alexandra Bay, from where they set off on November 2.

To follow their journey and donate to the cause, visit fo4rhope.co.za.

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