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~ when the cause is way bigger than the race ~
Taking on a tough challenge for a needy cause is always fantastic – not only is it altruistic, but it is an additional reason to give that challenge your best effort, and to see it through for something way bigger than simply the achievement of finishing.
Anyone who has organised a fundraising effort themselves knows it’s not an easy task. The initial gentle shout-out to everyone you know… the reminders… the gentle badgering… the diplomatic pleading to work colleagues, family and friends… the last bit of nagging before race day… the post-event last-chance-to-donate appeal. It’s exhausting!
Imagine if a race did all that for you? Imagine if by just participating in an event, you were able to make a substantial difference in someone’s life? No having to set up a fundraising platform, no stress or hassle or nagging…
That’s exactly what happened at last weekend’s Karkloof 100 Miler. Event sponsor Southern Lodestar Foundation, a Pietermaritzburg-based non-profit company, used the race to launch the One Run One Life initiative: for every entrant of the 2018 Karkloof 100 Miler, the Foundation committed to feed a school child one meal every day for the duration of that child’s primary school studies.
That’s five days a week, 52 weeks a year (yes, including school holidays), for seven years. Importantly, the Foundation’s commitment was based not on the number of runners who managed to get to the start line, nor the number of finishers, but on entrants, of which there were 108. So, that’s 196,560 meals to be donated, feeding 108 kids over the next seven years. That’s pretty damn real!
The school chosen for the initiative is Khipinkunzi Primary School in the Dukuduku district of St Lucia, Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. The primary school years are the most important phase of growth and development in a child’s life.
At the Karkloof 100 Miler finish line, my buddy Rob Graham, one of the three co-founders of the Foundation, told me about the principle behind the One Run One Life initiative, explaining how it ties in so sweetly with ultra-distance running.
“The joy of being healthy has become a luxury in our country. We run because we love it, because everyone can do it, and because it keeps us healthy. We also love the challenge of endurance races because of the grit, determination and stamina required, and the great satisfaction that comes when the goal is achieved. For us, races are a fun challenge, but for many children in our country, the challenge is getting through the day, often on an empty stomach. Basic nutrition is the foundation for health. As a society we all have the ability to drive change as individuals. Through the Southern Lodestar Foundation and our One Run One Life initiative, we aim to inspire change by encouraging runners to take on a huge personal challenge that also benefits our community. By providing meals for children, we support their health and enable them to reach their full potential.”
Karkloof 100 Mile winner Albert Phungula writes his message of inspiration for the kids at Khipinkunzi Primary School
One of the Karkloof 100 Miler finishers Nontuthuko Mgabhi put it really beautifully.
“Running 100 miles is, in itself, a triumph of the human spirit; but to run 100 miles for One Run One Life, to inspire and improve a child’s life, meant that I ran for a cause beyond myself. And that is humbling.
“Running 100 miles is, in itself, a triumph of the human spirit; but to run 100 miles for One Run One Life, to inspire and improve a child’s life, meant that I ran for a cause beyond myself. And that is humbling.
“Running builds character and perseverance. You feel good when you run, and as you start to feel good, you begin to achieve great things. If we educate the youth by encouraging them to follow a healthy lifestyle, we could unlock their potential and create a brighter future for everyone.”
For me the One Run One Life initiative is a feel-good story from start to finish. The project is the first of its kind in South Africa; it only does good; and through it the Foundation hopes to kick-start a movement within South Africa’s running community that enables ordinary people to make an enormous difference by simply doing what they love: running.
Albert Phungula, Karkloof 100, Khipinkunzi Primary School, Nontuthuko Mgabhi, One Run One Life, Rob Graham, Southern Lodestar Foundation
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