THIS year, Durban avid runner Ronald Smith will be flying The Association for the Aged (Tafta) flag high as he takes on the challenge of ‘the ultimate human race’, with the added incentive of raising funds for elders in need.
For the gym fanatic, whose heart is very close to the association for the elderly, Smith completing the Comrades Marathon is not just about crossing the finishing line but about helping as many people as you can along the way.
Also read: Runners raise funds for old age home
The 96th Comrades Marathon will be run on Sunday, June 11, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05:30 and ending 12 hours later at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. This will be the 48th Comrades Down Run.
Ronald will be running his second Comrades; he ran his first one in 2019. “I decided to do it again this year as I prepare for the IMA race which will be held next year.
“I saw this as a perfect opportunity to raise funds for our beloved elderly people. I love the work that they do at Tafta, the care they have, and how they give the elderly purpose-driven lives with their many activities.
“If a 70-year-old can run and finish the marathon, what is my excuse?” He smiled.
He also revealed that he will be participating in the Ironman Triathlon next year so Comrades is the perfect opportunity to prepare for it.
Ironman is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races, consisting of a 3.9km swim, a 180.2km bicycle ride and a marathon (42.2km) run, completed in that order – a total of 226.3km.
Ronald’s running journey started on Christmas Day 2017 as he’d struggled with his weight for most of his life.
He and his sister, Shayna, decided to not wait for New Year’s Day to start their fitness resolution. With the help and motivation of his sister, Shayna, they decided to get a headstart on their weight-loss journey.
The duo have been hosting many races in aid of Tafta as they believe that grandparents are special people who should be cherished, but instead, they are often forgotten.
Also read: Tafta launches elder abuse hotline
Ronald said they lost both their grandparents who loved them 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,” he said.
“Together with Shayna, Ron has been a loyal supporter of our organisation. The siblings have participated in and hosted countless running events while advocating for the Tafta brand and raising funds and awareness of our vision of making ‘dignity, growth and meaningful life a realistic prospect for all elders’. We will be cheering for him as he crosses that finish line!” said Tafta.
If you want to show your support or donate, click on this link https://tafta.org.za/support-running-rons-comrades-fundraiser-for-tafta/?fbclid=PAAablzUoVxw_SPzWV3SKWrgSyakfAToqmiZU6i_yF4Nb0hDiD_97TJjhLL_4.
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