A Cape Flats councillor is gearing up for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon for the first time, to help girls stay in school.
Area South Mayco Member Eddie Andrews is training hard to make sure he completes the 42.2km marathon. He aims to help young women who are forced to stay home while they menstruate as they cannot afford sanitary towels.
Eddie has worked in Mitchells Plain for several years.
The former Springbok, 41, has two daughters and says even though his work as a councillor keeps him busy, he wanted to keep fit and healthy.
“It was Mayor Patricia de Lille who inspired me last year when she called on councillors to do the 10km with her. Myself and councillor Mark Kleinsmith took up the challenge,” he says.
Last year Eddie told the Daily Voice he wanted to embark on projects aimed at empo-
wering women in Mitchells Plain and launched the first ever Women’s Day Netball Tournament.
The sanitary pad drive is his second project.
For the marathon, Eddie is aiming to collect 4200 packets of sanitary towels for a local charity.
He is calling on the public to show their support by donating one pack of pads for every 10 metres he completes.
Eddie has teamed up with a local coach and trains up to four times a week.
“I drive around with my running gear so when I finish in town at 5pm, instead of sitting in the traffic for two hours, I go running instead.
“I weigh 130kg and am determined to complete the marathon. People have already started to pledge their support and I am working with local NGOs who will help with the distribution afterwards.
“There are already so many barriers to education and we can’t allow menstruation to be another one,” he says.
If you would like to help, call Letitia on 021 400 4883 or email [email protected].