Local athlete pleads for donations
He added that his childhood changed the way he viewed life and gave him a compassionate heart to assist children.
Comrades Marathon runner, Thulane Sithole is pleading with residents to pledge donations towards his school shoes donation initiative.
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With over 20 years of experience on the race track, Sithole has now taken a step to use his talent to help keep young children in school by asking residents to donate shoes or cash that will be used towards buying school shoes.
Sithole has ran several races including the Dave Hawthorne Memorial Race, Old Mutual Soweto Marathon, Slow-Mag Marathon, Miway Hayward Marathon and the 21st Big Garsgerg Marathon to name a few.
He describes his childhood as one that has encourages him to help others, especially young children and to ensure that they are in school regardless of their family backgrounds.
“I was raised by my grandmother in Kwa-Zulu Natal after the death of my mother and I do not know my father.
“This on its own made my life difficult and I had to give up the dream of furthering my studies and move this side to look for a job as a gardener so that I can support my family back home.
“I later enrolled for security programme and found a job as a security officer,” Sithole said.
He added that his childhood changed the way he viewed life and gave him a compassionate heart to assist children.
“I was taken back after my encounter with a learner from Ekuthuleni Primary School in Zone 5, who was on the streets selling peanuts while his peers were in class.
“After my interaction with him, I learnt that his mother died while in custody of the police and he did not have a support structure.
“I then approached the school so that I can work with them on the school shoes donation initiative.”
Sithole said so far he managed to raise R 1000 which will be pledged into the initiative and calls on residents and sponsors to come on board to change lives of young black children.
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“It’s sad for us who were affected by their underprivileged backgrounds, I don’t want young kids to experience the rejection that comes with being unable to reach ones aspiration due to their backgrounds because our circumstances do not define us.”
Sithole adds that since he came with the idea to donate shoes he did not receive much support from those around him and therefore, pleads with those who want to join the initiative by donating to contact him on 073 956 6952.
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