Calling on runners, walkers and anyone with a kind heart: Caxton Local Media Joburg North needs your help collecting running shoes for children in need.
With the help of the lovely Face of the SPAR Women’s Race winner, Thulethu Ngqokwe, the Drop a Pair and Show You Care campaign will be even bigger and better in its fourth year.
“It is something I am very excited about,” smiled the Sunninghill resident. “Having running shoes provides dignity, motivation to exercise and hope to underprivileged children who just want to hit the road to de-stress.”
Ngqokwe said most people take it for granted that they have shoes they can run in, but for some children, it would make all the difference in the world to have running shoes.
Hence she has challenged her finalists from other regions to see who can collect the most soles.
“The other finalists and I are really competitive and hope to collect the most shoes for our region.
I really want to collect the most so c’mon my fellow Joburg North community, let’s show the east, south and west rands what we northerners can do!”
She believes this campaign can make a difference in a world where there are so many in need and encourages anyone willing to drop off their new or pre-loved running shoes to Caxton’s Craighall office at 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, or its Weltevreden Park office at 1187 Cornelius Street.
The campaign is part of the #RaceUpWithCare initiative.
It came about when Caxton Local Media and SPAR saw how many children run the SPAR Women’s Race Joburg barefoot.
Last year, 300 pairs of running shoes were given to children at Realogile Secondary School in Alexandra.
The principal, Matthew Choshi said at the time, “The township suffers socio-economic challenges. Some children don’t have money for nice shoes.
Our sports facilities are not great but this will motivate the children to play sport and will make them feel valued and inspired.”
Shoes can also be brought to the race at Marks Park Sports Club on 7 October.
Entries to the run can be made online at www.sparjoburgrace.co.za or you can visit any SPAR, SuperSPAR or KwikSPAR store to fill in an entry form.
Details: Caxton Local Media Craighall 011 293 6195; Caxton Local Media Weltevreden Park 011 794 6869.
