Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
A local Ultra Marathon runners group, Zvigure, have united to raise funds for children with autism ahead of their participation at the Comrades Marathon in South Africa on June 14.
For the team, the race is about more than medals and finishing times, as every kilometre they cover carries a deeper purpose of supporting children with autism and families facing the daily challenges associated with the condition.
Team captain Deliah Gobvu said the initiative is deeply personal, as she understands the realities faced by families raising autistic children.
“We have 20 athletes who are going for the Comrades Marathon this year and we want to raise funds to support families with autistic children. I am a mum in that situation myself, so I understand the challenges that we go through from discrimination, lack of understanding and so forth. So the idea now is to raise funds for others to get tested so that families understand as well as support them.”
The cause has inspired the runners to dig even deeper as they prepare for the gruelling race.
“I have been to Comrades before and going there to support this cause makes me very happy and I am even more motivated,” one of the runners said.
“This is my first time. I actually did not want to go but when I heard about the support for autistic children, I decided to join in and support my fellow brothers and sisters,” another noted.
The Comrades Marathon roars into life on June 14, with this year’s edition expected to test endurance, resilience and heart in an uphill contest.
