Zimasile’s 1km–10km shoe drive exceeds goal
Zimasile went from wondering where the first pair of shoes would come from to exceeding the planned number of pairs.
The Emalahleni City Marathon Club has celebrated one of its most inspiring
initiatives, led by athlete Zimasile Jabane, who turned his Comrades Marathon run
into a mission to help those in need.
His original plan was to raise 90 pairs of shoes – one for every kilometer of the
grueling race, but the community’s overwhelming support saw him surpass
expectations, collecting 125 pairs instead.
“At some point, I was thinking if I should buy the first pair of shoes or I should expect it from someone else, just to get the initiative going, but today we met the target and beyond,” Zimasile said.
The handover ceremony, held on June 20, began with a 5km run, during which
athletes gathered to honour the spirit of giving before the shoes were officially
presented.
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The donation was handed over to Ikamva-Lethu, an organisation
dedicated to uplifting disadvantaged children.
In his speech, Zimasile thanked everyone who contributed to the successful
campaign. He reflected on the uncertainty he felt at the start.
That simple thought
became a reality as supporters rallied behind him in numbers far greater than
expected.
The Emalahleni City Marathon Club also expressed gratitude to all who played a part
in making the initiative a success.
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