This man will be running a marathon in skoolskoene to put shoes on the feet of poor pupils in Mitchells Plain.
The manager of the Run4Schools Foundation in Mitchells Plain, Frank Steyn, will run the Two Oceans Marathon on 20 April to raise funds to buy shoes for kids at Northwood Primary in Woodlands.
Steyn, a former Woodlands High pupil who grew up in Colorado Park, said he came up with the idea after a group of kids asked him for a soccer ball.
“I told them no because their parents would become stressed if they came home with broken shoes,” said Steyn.
“What was sad was when one boy in the group said his school shoes were broken, and his parents didn’t have money to buy a new pair.
“I would like people to donate school shoes for every kilometre I run.”
He posted this appeal on Facebook and Bianca Erasmus, among others, replied: “I will donate R10 for every kilometre (Steyn runs) and will get friends involved.”
Steyn says 250 children will take part in a 5.6km fun run the day before the Two Oceans Marathon takes place.
“We have been doing this for the past 14 years. They will be cheered on by a group of Dutch runners who the foundation brings over every year. The following day, these runners and I will take part in the ultra marathon.”
The founder of the Run4Schools Foundation, Leslie Pangemanan, said he was proud of Steyn’s initiative.
“It is great to see that he will create awareness for others. It will be tough to run in school shoes, but he will succeed.”