31 marathons in 31 days to raise money for motor neuron disease
KILLARNEY – Morne Basson ran 42,2km each day for five days at Killarney Mall to raise money for motor neuron disease.
One man will be running 31 marathons on a treadmill in 31 days at various locations around Johannesburg to raise money for motor neuron disease.
Morné Basson started a non-profit organisation, MBI Health, with the aim of raising money for people who had been affected by the disease. The first stretch of Basson’s marathons took place at the Killarney Mall from 29 September to 3 October.
Basson set up a treadmill on the back of a Toyota Hilux sponsored by Toyota Killarney and ran 42.2 km each day and will continue to run that distance each day totalling just more than 1 300km for the cause.
“There is, of course, a lot of training involved but you also have to be mentally strong, if you know that a loved one is injured and you have to run this distance to save them, you would,” said Basson.
He added that the death of a close member of his family from the disease was what motivated him to become involved with raising money to provide sufferers with a better quality of life.
Motor neuron disease is a condition which causes progressive damage to the nervous system which eventually renders the sufferer unable to perform basic bodily functions.
Basson emphasised that those with the illness are unable to swallow or speak once that condition had progressed and he hoped the money raised would be able to contribute to the care required. “My goal is to have a house by January 2019 which can accommodate motor neuron disease patients and provide them with caretakers.”
Basson hopes that the treadmill marathons at various public spaces will encourage people to regularly donate money to help care for patients. Basson added that his goal for the treadmill marathons was to get 1 000 people who will contribute R100 each month to MBI Health. He has met many patients who suffer from the illness through his work with various foundations and will contribute the money directly to sufferers to finance their various expenses.
Basson will take his treadmill to Northgate Mall, Randridge Mall and Fairlands Walk to continue his 31 Days 31 Marathons challenge.
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