Running Comrades to honour a friend

GRANT Cummings was a well-known name in the running community, not only for his natural running ability but for his commitment to supporting new runners and for raising money for various charities through the Comrades Marathon.

Cummings also started the Winston Park Trail Snakes – an off-road running group for runners of all levels of ability and fitness – which became a platform for people to meet and enjoy the beautiful trails that the Upper Highway area has to offer.

Also read: Tributes pour in for Highway athlete

Sadly, he passed away on February 6 this year, just four months before he was due to run his 11th Comrades Marathon in his Green Number and raise funds for Community Chest Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

In order to keep his legacy of running for those who need support alive, his friend of 45 years, Justin Hand, has stepped up and will be running in his Green Number for the first time and raising much-needed funds for under-resourced children in KwaZulu-Natal.

“I wasn’t planning on running this year,’’ says Justin whose main focus is triathlons, “but when Grant passed away, I had to do something to honour him, and I know this would mean so much to him as it does to his family,’’ explains Justin.

“I am under-trained for the day, but all the fond memories I have of him will keep me going to the end,’’ explains Justin.

Justin and Grant met at the age of five when they were both playing football for the Yellowwood Park Football Club. Grant’s parents, Val and Derek, still live in Yellowwood Park, and Justin’s folks lived there until their final days.

“Grant and I played in the same football team for years, and both of us were big Tottenham Hotspurs fans. Grant then took up running, and I used to watch him and his Dad training on the local field or participating in the Yellowwood Park time trial.’’

Justin went to boarding school in 1988 which is when he took up running and would often compete against Grant in school athletic events with Grant being stronger at cross-country and Justin being stronger at sprinting.

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After school, Grant went to UKZN and ran for Durban University, along with a group of very talented runners, who not only took some podium places in the intervarsity events but who have remained friends ever since. Justin said that the group socialised as hard as they trained, and with youth on their side, would sometimes arrive at the start line of Sunday morning races nursing a hangover. This, however, never affected their performance.

“Although I didn’t attend university, I trained with the team often, and we have all remained good friends over the past 30 years. Despite being all over the world, we stayed in contact, but Grant was always the glue that kept us all together. He was the best at making plans for us to go for a run or meet for a meal.’’

“In 2013, Grant and I decided to run Comrades, and we started a ‘Bill Rowen’ group with plans for all of us to cross the finish line together in under nine hours. All was going according to schedule until the weather changed dramatically. Many Comrades runners will remember the heat and hectic Berg wind which saw their goals disappearing before their eyes. Grant and I both managed to achieve our ‘Bill Rowen’, but at eight kilometres to go, I told him to run ahead. If you look at Grant’s Comrades splits, you will see that his last five kilometres are always the fastest of his race which is a testament to his strength and ability as a runner.’’

“I am honoured to be running for Grant this year and aim to raise R100 000 for Community Chest. He was relentless at reminding people to donate to whatever worthy cause he was supporting and gave us all very little choice but to get involved. I hope I can do him proud and reach my target while making a difference in the lives of children under the age of five living in impoverished areas throughout KZN.’’

To support Justin’s Race4Charity campaign you can donate via:

1. Zapper

2. Deposit into the Community Chest account:
Community Chest Section 18A Fund
FNB Account Number: 62036038463
Branch code: 221426
Reference: Justin Hand / your name

3. Click on the link below and make a deposit:
https://charity.easyreg.co.za/comrades-marathon-2023/justin-hand/community-chest-durban-pietermaritzburg

Section 18A Certificates are available on request. You simply have to email fadeela@communitychest.co.za.

For more information on Community Chest, visit https://www.communitychest.co.za/

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