Soweto man runs for charity
The 49-year-old Thulane Sithole has been running marathons for over two decades dating back to 1998.
49-year-old Thulane Sithole has been running marathons for over two decades dating back to 1998.
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This has been his passion but this year he wants to change all that by using the Comrades Marathon to help underprivileged learners.
He said he wants to use the annual 90km race set for August 28 to impact a person’s life and do good for learners in the Diepkloof and greater Soweto area.
Sithole, who grew up in Empangeni described most of his life as hard and often a struggle after the brutal killing of his mother and grandmother during the 1995 political violence. He explains how he left his home and sought shelter with relatives, where he was forced to uproot once more when things got bad.
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“Growing up was hard, especially after the death of my mother. I had to leave school soon after, I had no relationship with my father, Life become tough but being in sports helped me stay disciplined and focused,” he said.
Sithole moved to Soweto in the year 2000 in hopes of greener pastures, where he worked as a gardener in the suburbs of Johannesburg South, all the while maintaining his love for road running.
The runner who boasts over 30 medals from prestigious races such as the comrades and Soweto Marathon said he hopes by completing the race something good come from his participation.
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“Through this initiative I wish to help someone with the little I have and ask the community to come on board to help me make my dream a reality.”
Sithole added that the initiative was born from realizing the number of kids that were either underprivileged or orphaned in his community. He said he hopes to collect clothes, school uniforms and non-perishable foods adding that all proceeds will go towards the Ekuthuleni Combined School in Zone 5 and hopefully will expand to other schools.
“My goal with his year’s marathon is to ensure that for every kilometer I complete, at least one learner gets the assistance.”
Sithole who works as a security officer at Sandton City and uses his off days to train for the marathon said it was his long life dream to create change.
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He added that if the initiative garners support with the right partnerships, he plans to make it an annual event with the hope that it will one day become an organisation.
Anyone who wishes to join Sitholes’ dream of impacting a life, can get in touch with him on 073 956 6952 or via email at thulanes312@gmail.com. He added that anyone who wishes to purchase the uniforms instead could do so and drop them off at his Zone 1 home.
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