Nuno aims for 900km to assist Edenvale
“The idea is to not only to improve the CBD but to bring the community together.”
With the hope of helping the town, long-distance runner Nuno Morais is set go the distance to run 900km to improve Edenvale CBD.
On November 28 Morais hit the ground running when he launched his #thirtythirty initiative.
The initiative will see Morais run 30 km, through Edenvale for 30 days, to raise funds to be used to improve the town.
The Dowerglen resident said he decided to start the initiative after he read the NEWS’ Vibe on Van Riebeeck feature in the November 13 edition.
“I love Edenvale, and after reading the feature I wanted to do something which could benefit the town.
“The idea is to not only improve the CBD, but to bring the community together,”Morais said.
Fellow runner Richard Laskey, who is assisting Morais, fondly remembers Edenvale being a hive of activity when he was younger.
“You felt safe when you were in Edenvale, and I hope we can feel like that again in the CBD.”
Morais plans to run 30 km each day by spacing it out throughout the day because of the heat.
When the NEWS met him on the morning of the launch of the initiative, he had already run 18km.
In terms of improving the CBD, Morais hopes to speak to business owners to learn more about some of their concerns in the CBD.
He said funds donated will be used to address some of the identified concerns.
Some of the issues already highlighted by the pair include fixing Edenvale’s uneven pavements, clearing weeds growing on pavements and redoing the gardens in the island in the boulevards.
“We need business to buy into this initiative to improve Edenvale CBD,” said Laskey.
Besides improving the CBD, Morais hopes to create more awareness about business in Edenvale, and to promote the local economy.
He intends to speak to business owners, and share photographs of them on social media.
Runners in the community and surrounding athletics clubs such as Edenvale Rand Road Warriors, Bedfordview Athletics Club, Jeppe Athletics Club and Greenstone Hill Running Club, will join Morais.
Those who join him can run any distance they choose to. He will also interact with businesses during the run.
To learn more about the initiative, or to follow Morais on his journey, visit his Facebook page.
