Greater than the pride of a medal around his neck, or the impressive time of 0:05:14 with which Koos Letsoba finished seventh in the Masters category of this year’s Parys Crater Street Mile, was the deep gratitude of the man from Vredefort who, after many years, finally got to live out his running dream.

Saturday marked a milestone for Koos — his first street mile and his first race in years. This time, he didn’t line up in his old, worn-out running shoes with torn soles, but in brand-new trainers and the official Parys Multisport club kit. With hundreds of other athletes beside him, Koos set off with determination and joy, thanks to the generosity of Parys Rotary, Parys Multisport, Keith Ward, and many others who opened their hearts to support him.

Though Koos excelled in several sports during his school years, opportunities were scarce for the young boy who grew up in an orphanage in Lenasia. His athletic talent lay dormant for years — until a story about his running dream appeared in the Gazette. That article changed everything for the father of two, whose feet have once again found their rhythm on the open road.

Organisers of the Street Mile noticed his potential and gave him the chance to compete — a gesture that embodies the spirit of the Parys Crater Street Mile, an event that thrives on community spirit, inclusion, and shared purpose.

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the local community, Koos is now a registered member of Parys Multisport, with his Athletics South Africa membership fees fully paid — a true testament to what can be achieved when a community stands together for one of its own.