Northerns helps a dream come true for young athletes

Benoni Northerns Athletics Juniors, who are coached by Sonja Ferreira, gathered at Northerns club recently for a special announcement and handover. 

Benoni Northerns Athletic Juniors are joining forces with a group of underprivileged athletes aged between eight and 16 in January, who will come to Northerns to train with the juniors once a month.

Theresa de Lange, coordinator of Benoni Northerns Athletic Juniors, explained that she wrote to Nike SA recently to request them to sponsor the team of youngsters with a new pair of shoes and socks each and shared their story with the Nike team.

ALSO READ:

Northerns end the year on a high note

Nike was happy to oblige and sponsored 30 pairs of training shoes and socks, to the value of R1 100 per set.

“I first came across this group of young runners at the Central Gauteng Athletics cross country meets, where I was watching my children compete every year.

“Most of them didn’t have shoes and were running barefoot and they didn’t have proper running kit either,” said de Lange.

“I saw the group of children again at a running event in Germiston, but this time a bigger group, and decided I had to do something.

“I got hold of the Northerns coach and asked him if he would like to join forces.

“He was pleased and excited by this opportunity because the children aren’t part of a club, as they are not able to afford the fees.

“They mostly run track and cross-country, but there was a lot of talent there,” said Theresa.

She then began the process of the two groups combining, urging Northerns to sponsor kit for the group, which they did.

At the handover, Northerns also supplied each child with a hotdog and cold drink and said they will be doing this once a month when the children come and train at Northerns.

“None of this would be possible without the Nike sponsorship and we thank them,” said de Lange.