Hillcrest duo host race in support of Tafta

HILLCREST brother and sister, Ronald and Shayna Smith have joined forces to host a race in support of The Association for the Aged (Tafta).

With Athletics South Africa (ASA) cancelling the race calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fitness fanatics found a way to keep runners motivated while raising funds for a good cause.

ALSO READ: Siblings step it up for TAFTA

The siblings are part of Running Kin which is a registered running club with ASA. Ronald said their love for running started on Christmas Day 2017 as he struggled with his weight for most of his life.

“We decided why wait for New Year’s day to start our fitness resolution.”

ALSO READ: Amashova opts for virtual race due to Covid-19 pandemic

With the help and motivation of his sister Shayna, they decided to get a head start on their weight loss journey.

The duo said grandparents are special people who should be cherished, but instead they are often forgotten. “We lost both our grandparents who loved us dearly.

“Our grandmother was truly the heart and soul of our family. She was the absolute essence of a kind, beautiful soul. Selfless and humble. The love she had for her grandchildren was truly something else. Before she passed she had been diagnosed with dementia, which was heartbreaking,” said Shayna.

Ronald said they were aware of the work Tafta was doing, so when they reached their weight loss goal, they wanted something to keep them motivated.

“We do support other NPOs but Tafta is our main one. What we love about them is that they allow the elderly to live their best lives with many activities and projects which are inspiring,” he said.

How to enter
The pair is running this event through Kin Fit which they created.

They said the race will take place on Sunday, 25 October. It will start and finish at Cotswold. There will be two races, 42,2km and 21,1km.

“This is to keep runners motivated and have something to look forward to since all the races were cancelled.”

The participants will be running across the Hillcrest marathon route.

“People need to reserve their spot as not more than 50 runners will be permitted to take part. We need to prepare everything before hand to adhere to the regulations,” said Ronald.

Entry fee is R150, half of the money raised will go towards organising the event and the other 50 per cent will be donated to Tafta.

They added that there will be shorter distances where other interested people can take part.

“They can come on the day, pay a donation and join in on the fun,” said Shayna.

To enter, email info@runningkin.com.

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