Old Killarney resident inspires Greenside resident to keep healthy
KILLARNEY – The 80-year-old has taken the advice to keep healthy and made it his everyday routine.
A Greenside resident has been getting inspiration from a Killarney resident she sees running every day on the road.
The resident, Belinda Stevens, noticed Wilson Mavhaga, en-route to her workplace, running every day since Level 4 lockdown and stopped to ask him questions.
She found out that Mavhaga was 80 years old and was ‘instrumental in keeping my spirit strong during lockdown’. “He made my heart fill [with pride] watching him. His daily ritual demonstrated a belief in a tomorrow and a reason to maintain habits and carry on. He is quiet and humble. He believes in exercise for strength and survival.”
The Rosebank Killarney Gazette also met with Mavhaga who was accompanied by his eldest son Simon Rendani Mavhaga at Killarney Mall. The runner shared that he was born in 1940 and started running when he stayed in Lower Houghton in the 70s. At the time, Mavhaga worked for Barney Kramer, chairman of Solly Kramer’s bottle store which was close to Wanderers Golf Club.
“I had stopped running for a while but then started again this year,” said Mavhaga. “This was because of the inspiration from our leaders. “They keep telling us that when you become old you mustn’t just sit. Therefore, as elders we do this so that the younger generation can get inspiration from us.”
As part of the younger generation, Rendani said when he was young, he and his two siblings used to swim and did exercises together with Kramer. He added that his father used to work at Killarney Golf Club as a caddy and he used to help as well.
“He always likes to eat healthily and we do the same thing as well,” added Rendani. “So that’s why even now he’s still going strong at the age of 80. The exercises seem to have helped my father because he hasn’t had any Covid-19 symptoms.”
The son added that his father always liked to carry the country’s flag while running to show that he was proudly South African. He said community members were very fond of his father and they called him Mr Lower Houghton because he had been part of that community for so long.
The 80-year-old grandfather of one grandchild and one great-grandchild advised young people to take better care of themselves by eating healthy and exercising.
Have you seen Wilson running? Share how he has made you feel on Facebook at Rosebank Killarney Gazette
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