South Coast Striders is truly a remarkable club, well, its members are.
As short, middle and long distance runners, they are used to do extraordinary things in terms of pushing the bodies and minds to the limit.
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Most of their friends look at them and shake their heads in disbelief, mixed with awe.
There’s been a whole lot more dished up by the members during the Covid-19 enforced lockdown.
Daan van Niekerk has run 162km around a tennis court, non-stop for 30 hours, to raise funds for those needing food at this time of crisis.
He’s the pastor at Lede in Christus in Umtentweni and he used the run as an opportunity to pray for an identified 195 countries around the world.
He gave credit to his fellow South Coast Striders running club members, friends and family who sent him messages of support along the way.
He thanked God for giving him the strength to push through all the way to the end.In the end, Ps Daan ran for 29 hours, 42 minutes and 38 seconds.He completed 162km which comprised 1620 laps of 100 on a tennis court.
He also thanked his main sponsor, Etienne du Plessis of ERD Construction, as well as those who had contributed in some way or another.
Along the way, he prayed for, at least, 195 countries.
“Some of them I had no idea where they were on the map and my prayer would be Lord, I don’t know where this country is found on the world map, but You do!”
Many others, like Striders captain Mark Smith, ran at home in support of Ps Daan.
“I won’t lie, it’s really tough running 60km in a small garden, but I am happy I could do my bit,” he said.
Emmanuel Mufumadi, who was inspired to run his own marathon, said he took his hat off to Ps Daan.
“It takes one man to have a positive influence at a time like this,” he said.
Shorter distance champion runner Peter Chidzungu has ran 15km each day to pray for the various continents, so 105km altogether.
Deborah Berridge has run to raise funds for CHOC (childhood cancer).
Tarryn Milligan was another Strider who created her own track at home, running to support Deborah and Daan, clocking up some serious miles in the process.
Others have run in fits and starts, to keep fit and fight off boredom.
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