In the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of service and compassion, Pacemakers Athletic Club dedicated 67 minutes to giving back to the community by spending Mandela Day with elderly residents at the Vukuzimele Club for the Aged in Sakhile, Standerton, on July 18.

Club chairperson Muzwakhe Ndebele said the initiative was inspired by Madiba’s call to serve humanity while promoting healthy living among senior citizens.

“We spent the day showing love and promoting healthy living through a wellness session where we taught the elders about healthy lifestyle choices, led them through gentle exercises, engaged them in fun games, and provided spiritual encouragement. We also distributed goodie bags to each elder as a token of appreciation and care,” said Ndebele.

He expressed gratitude to the club’s members and supporters for making the initiative possible.

“As a club, we thank our members for their generous hearts in ensuring that our elders had a blessed day, as well as everyone who contributed to making the day a success,” he said.

According to Ndebele, the event was filled with joy, meaningful interaction and mutual respect.

“The day was filled with laughter, connection and mutual respect, reminding us that small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

“At Pacemakers Athletic Club, we believe in honouring Mandela’s legacy not just with words, but through action.

“We aim to promote healthy living through walking, running and regular physical exercise while encouraging the community to keep their bodies moving,” said Ndebele.

Ndebele said the club deliberately chose to spend its 67 minutes at the Vukuzimele Club for the Aged to demonstrate that physical activity has no age limit.

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“Our goal is to get everyone involved in exercise, from the young to the elderly and people living with disabilities and our club is also committed to using sport as a tool to combat crime, particularly among young people,” said Ndebele.

Ndebele said they believe that one day their community will produce athletes who will compete on the biggest stages of running because running is not only about covering distance; it is about community, showing up for people and making someone’s future a little brighter.

“We appeal to the people of Lekwa and surrounding areas to join us in shaping a better tomorrow. Pacemakers Athletic Club welcomes anyone interested in joining, free of charge,” said Ndebele.

The club’s weekly training programme includes hill repeat sessions on Mondays, speed work on Tuesdays, high-impact and cardio training at the Standerton Body Workshop on Wednesdays, tempo runs on Thursdays, and long-distance training runs on Saturdays.

Ndebele encouraged community members of all fitness levels to become part of the club and embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle.