The annual George Bizos Mini Marathon saw runners flock to the streets of Bedfordview.
Hosted by Saheti School on October 1, the sixth edition of the mini marathon had 1 200 runners taking part.
Life vice president of Saheti School, Advocate George Bizos, told the NEWS that the funds raised through the mini marathon will go towards the George Bizos Saheti Scholarship and Bursary Fund.
“The fund provides children access to education. Saheti’s doors are open to everyone,” said Bizos.
Originally a refugee from Greece, Bizos spent most of his life fighting for equality and human rights in South Africa.
After fleeing to SA in World War II, he lived in Johannesburg and did not go to school for a number of years.
The NEWS reported in 2016 that a teacher from Malvern Junior High School insisted that he (Bizos) attend school.
“If it were not for that teacher, things would have been different,” he said.
Head of sport at Saheti and organiser of the marathon, Phillip Venter, said 2017’s mini marathon was the second biggest mini marathon hosted by the school.
He said the 2016 mini marathon was larger by 200 participants.
“I am very pleased with this year’s event and was pleased with the results of previous years’ events too,” said Bizos.
Venter described the atmosphere among the runners as “phenomenal“.
As per the custom of the mini marathon, Bizos began the race by firing the starting pistol.
Venter said the event consisted of 4.2km and 8.4km runs as well as a colour run.
The first man to cross the finish line in the 8.4km race was Nowell Mbotwa (35:09) and the first woman was Tina Bertsatos (39:44).
The first man to cross the finish line in the 4.2km race was Dimitri Papathanasis (20:05) and the first woman was Gwen Muller (21:36).
