1,600km fundraiser for abused children
Johan started his trek on Saturday, 16 April and is expected to hit Toti on Saturday, 7 May.
A Gauteng man plans to walk from Olivedale to Amanzimtoti and back to raise funds for abused children.
Johan Nel (58) started his trek for the Brothers and Sisters For Life organisation on Saturday, 16 April and is expected to hit Toti on Saturday, 7 May. He will cover a total of 1,642km and travel through 36 towns along the way.
“The organisation was established nine months ago to assist women and children in abusive situations,” said founding chairman, Roberto Menego. “We had a case where we assisted six children from the same family who were in an abusive situation. We removed the children and they are now staying with their grandparents.
Johan has kindly offered to do the walk to raise funds so that we can donate to the grandparents to help with their children’s upbringing. Hopefully if we can raise enough, we can help contribute towards their education.”
Johan will walk between 20km and 70km a day, a massive task as he has titanium in his right leg and no knee after suffering a bad fall in 1993. “I feel nervous,” he said ahead of his trek. “My biggest concern is my leg packing up.”
Along the way Johan will be put up for the night in the towns he travels through. He still needs accommodation en route from Olivedale to Toti at the following towns: Nigel – 18 April, Perdekop – 23 April, Volksrust – 24 April, Estcourt – 30 April, Mooi River – 1 May and Nottingham Road – 2 May.
Then from Toti to Olivedale at: Nottingham Road – 14 May, Mooi River – 15 May, Escourt – 16 May, Bergville – 17 May, Harrismith – 18 and 19 May, Bethlehem – 21 May, Rietz – 22 May, Frankfort – 23 May and Oranjeville – 24 May. If you can put Johan up for a night, contact Roberto on 074-958-3131 or email bflandsfl@gmail.com.
This is not the first marathon walk for Johan, who grew up in Ballito. In 2013 he walked 863km from Ballito to Phalaborwa.
He took the first steps on his great trek from his home in Olivedale at 6am, but hopes to hit the asphalt even earlier along the way.
All he will carry is a backpack with clothes, food and water, weighing about 12kg.
It is hoped locals will come out in their numbers to welcome Johan into Toti at Charlie’s Bar, Kingsway, Warner Beach.
You can help his cause by donating non-perishable foods, toiletries, clothing, underwear, toys, educational toys, blankets or linen. Donations can be dropped off at Mario and Vanessa Salottolo at 9 Beach Road, Doonside.
Financial donations can be deposited into the following bank account: PSS, FNB, cheque account, account number: 62362629390, bank code: 250655.
For more information, call Mario on 081-777-1453 or Vanessa on 081-7739661.
