Chad Markgraaf of Alberton has once again taken on an extraordinary challenge by committing to run 1000 marathons in 100 days.
However, this time, his mission goes beyond personal accomplishment.
Inspired by the impact of his previous initiative, Chad has teamed up with Dayne Smith, a senior executive at the NPO called Teach Beyond. Together, they are channelling their passion for running into a fundraising initiative called ‘1 000 Beyond,’ aiming to provide educational facilities to underprivileged children across Africa.
The 1 000 Beyond initiative
According to Chad, following the completion of his 1000 marathons, he crossed paths with Dayne, who shared the remarkable work Teach Beyond was doing to improve education for underprivileged children in Africa.
“I was moved by the organisation’s mission and knew I wanted to contribute. Dayne intends to raise funds for Teach Beyond by running a marathon in 2024. Dayne and I decided to run 10km every day for 100 days and they hit the road on January 1.
“This initiative raises funds and encourages other runners to support the cause. The term ‘beyond’ in the name refers to the overall goal of encouraging participation from individuals willing to set their own daily mileage goals,” said Chad.
Power of Community
Chad underscored that they are currently on Day 43 of the initiative, and have witnessed a groundswell of support from the community.
“Runners from different backgrounds and skill levels have joined ‘1 000 Beyond,’ each contributing to the collective goal of making a meaningful impact on education in Africa.
“The initiative emphasises the power of community engagement, uniting people through their shared love for running and a common desire to create positive change,” said Chad.
Fundraising run/walk event
To celebrate the halfway mark of the ‘1 000 Beyond’ initiative, Chad and Dayne are organising a fundraising run/walk event on February 24.
The event, featuring 5km and 10km options, will commence at Root Café in Brackendowns at 08:00. All proceeds go towards supporting Teach Beyond’s efforts to provide educational facilities for underprivileged children.
For more information, email chad28markgraaf@gmail.com
ALSO READ: Chad Markgraaf’s 100 Marathons in 100 Days Journey to Fight Cancer
