Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Legendary race for one teen’s dream
FROM overseeing emergency medical services out of Khayelitsha Hospital to advising his colleagues on procedures, Lynold Griffiths is on a mission.
Griffiths, 55, is set to participate in the
Race The Comrades Legends to raise funds to help Shanteqé Jones realise her dream of becoming an actress.
The event, scheduled to start tomorrow, is a virtual race to celebrate the spirit and history of the Comrades Marathon.
This year would have been the 95th edition of the race, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Race The Comrades Legends participants can complete their individual race from anywhere – even on a treadmill – with various distances to choose from.
Griffiths, along with Mitchells Plain Titans Athletic Club teammates, will aim to run 90km, starting from and finishing at Glendale Secondary School in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain. He would like donations for every kilometre he completes.
“Education is the key to our children’s success and can change our circumstances for a better future. I was from a disadvantaged community but that did not stop me from reaching my goals,” Griffiths said.
“When I heard Shanteqé wanted to complete her drama studies it brought back good memories about role-plays in church and the different characters we played.
“I would like to raise enough money for Shanteqé to complete her studies.”
Griffiths hopes to finish in under 10 hours: “I would love to run a good time but also to finish with a smile.
“I hope this will motivate others to better themselves and do something different in life. You should always believe in yourself, be disciplined, have faith and hope.”
Jones, 18, is overwhelmed and thankful for Griffiths’ efforts: “This brings joy to my heart. It is important for me to finish my studies because I want to fulfil my dream, make my parents proud and make a change in the world.”
Her mother, Sue-Ellen Marthinus, said she cannot fully express her gratitude for the initiative and what it means for her family.
“This whole idea to help raise funds for my daughter was born out of love. It brought me to tears when I heard about it because there are people out there who are believing in my daughter’s dream,” said Marthinus, who describes her daughter as free-spirited.
“Shanteqé is smart, funny and someone that pulls the crowd to her. She’s dedicated, determined and hard-working in everything she does,” she added.
Comrades Marathon Association media and communications officer Delaine Cools said: “In just about every other respect (Race The Comrades Legends) is different, with everyone choosing their own distance, route, starting times, recording and submitting their own finishing times and for the most part doing it entirely on their own, in terms of lockdown regulations.
“The Race The Comrades Legends is a running concept based on the stories of the greatest Comrades legends in history.”
For more information on Race The Comrades Legends and to enter, see https:// www.comrades.com/race-the-comradeslegends-information