TEACHER and six-time Comrades Marathon finisher, Simphiwe Mshishi Mngwengwe, will push himself to the limit for a fundraising “Run for Nature” from Amanzimtoti to Port Edward on August 22. He will start the mammoth run from the Amanzimtoti parkrun.

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He explained that the idea behind Run for Nature comes from his belief that people cannot be separated from the environment.

“We depend on nature every day, but we often don’t realise how much damage is being caused through pollution, poor waste management and the destruction of natural spaces. I also chose Nombuso High School because I am passionate about education and I understand the challenges faced by schools in rural communities. I want the run to leave something meaningful behind, rather than simply being a personal sporting achievement. The intention is to support environmental education, recycling and tree planting while contributing towards creating a better learning environment for learners. For me, the message is simple: we run for our health, but we can also run for the health of our communities and our environment,” said Mngwengwe.

The runner is a community-minded Port Edward resident and a member of Zwakala Athletics Club. Running, for him, is about connecting with people and contributing to causes that matter to his community.

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“My running journey started many years ago simply because I enjoyed running and challenging myself. Over time, that passion became much more serious. I started entering races and pushing myself to see what I was capable of. One of my early memorable achievements was running the Pietermaritzburg Save Orion Half Marathon in 1:32:14. Since then, I have completed the Comrades Marathon six times,” said Mngwengwe.

What began as a personal passion gradually evolved into something bigger and he began using his platform to inspire people and his physical challenges to create awareness for causes close to his heart.

“Honestly, 150km is a massive challenge, even for someone who loves running. But that is partly why I chose it. I wanted to do something that would make people stop and ask, ‘Why is he running 150km?’ The distance itself becomes a way of attracting attention to the message behind the run. I know there will be moments of pain, exhaustion and doubt, especially because this is a solo run. But whenever it becomes difficult, I will remind myself that I am not running only for myself. I am running for nature, for environmental awareness and for the learners at Nombuso High School,” he concluded.

Donate to the cause

If you would like to contribute towards Run for Nature, you may do so on its BackaBuddy page.

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