Give hope a pair of shoes!

The future of our country is being authored now, you and I can play our part in rewriting history for the generations to come. We may not have millions to give away, we may not have 67 years to devote to public service but your old pair of shoes could carry a dream to fulfillment. We are running a drive to collect as many pairs of used running shoes as we can for #ShoesForPlanetEarth campaign. 

You can find out more about their work here: http://www.shoesforplanetearth.com/

Our hope is to give young talented children and young adults across the country a shot at attaining their dreams as athletes regardless of their present circumstances. We would be more than grateful if you could please spread the word to athletes, family and friends about this campaign. Shoes will be collected at races in the Western Province and we will be happy to collect or arrange an alternative drop off point wherever possible. May you please assist by sharing this on your social media pages so we can help change our nation, one young athlete at a time.

Remember our journey to a better nation needs shoes and we hope to collect 1300 in 30 days, and we won’t be able impact 1300 lives without your pair.The shoes will be given to underprivileged children and young adults who are taking part in the Township Development Race to be held on the 27th of September in Mossel Bay. The race is aimed at encouraging the disadvantaged athletes to take part in sort and hopefully pursue a career in sport.

Shoes can be dropped off at following ZoneFitness clubs around Cape Town:


· Bellville

· Cape Quarter

· Parow

· Zone on the Square

· Wynberg

· Brackenfell

· Zone Women Cape Town

· Cape Town CBD

· Durbanville

· Milnerton

· Rondebosch

· Willowbridge

Find directions to the nearest ZoneFitness club here: http://www.zonefitness.co.za/clubs/index

For more details and to arrange an alternative pick up or drop off point, please contact Edeline on 0799390026 or email edmutize@gmail.com

CEO:Viv Kartsounis

Shoes for Planet Earth Inc

P O Box 216

Thornleigh

NSW Australia 2120

Mob: +61 422 587 029

“A prophet has no honor in his own home…” 

A statement that rings true more often than not. Well except in cases where the prophet comes in the form of ballad makers like Justin Bieber or wealthy business moguls of one caliber or another and it is 5 years after establishing one’s career.

 I am thankful to the many that have shown support, by cautioning the somewhat crazy individuals like myself against taking on more than a mouthful. Negative thoughts fester and when entertained, they can become debilitating. However, I choose to feed negative thoughts to fear, not in a bid to fuel fear but rather in a gesture of defiance that will nauseate fear to the point of bringing up courage.

The realization that Mission Possible Comrades Back to Back is upon us is more evident than ever. As the last few days go by, the anxiety mounts and courage is tempted to travel down the easy road marked "Give up!". 174 km in less than 24 hours may be no mean feat especially for a novice running this distance for the first time, but what stands to be gained is more worthy of dwelling upon.  

News reports in the past week alone, of children who are either perpetrators of crime or victims of it, wrenches at the gut of anyone who has the ability to feel. Running the Comrades Marathon twice this weekend is not just a sporting indulgence but the cry of a heart pleading with every individual to take a moment and make a difference.

Financial contributions will go a long way in furthering the activities of organizations such as Newkidz on the Block for whom I run. However, change will come when men and women lay aside the reasons not to do something and just do it. Just sacrifice a weekend to show a child what it is like to be loved. Just take a few moments to teach a child little things that show them they are worthy and here for a purpose. Just write a letter, pick up the phone or visit those who feel forgotten and forsaken. Change will come, when we see the dreams that could be born with the right foundation instead of just a statistic.

I run because I envision millions of dreams coming true, not because of what I or a few individuals have done but because of what you will do. I run carrying millions of dreams, afraid that if I stop, they may never reach maturity. I run as a page, a mere message bearer of good tidings. Our future is bright, not because of this simple gesture but because you hold the wax to make it shine. Please join me on the 174km journey, in mind, heart and spirit as we carry forward the hope that all children, our children will be raised lovingly and that the broken may find healing for a better tomorrow.

Sweet smell of success

Once the dust settles from a great adventure one needs to calm down and take stock. The first edition of Mission Possible was a success, not in the sense of having the numbers but in that we all left feeling change was coming. Ascending up Lion’s Head were men, women and children who had one thing in mind, the vision of a better city, better lives and better homes for the underprivileged children we may never get to see face to face.

While sitting and waiting for people to arrive, a million thoughts were reeling through my head. Questions about whether anyone would turn up were put to rest when the first individual arrived. That was the greatest victory of all and had no one else turned up, the mission would still have been regarded as a success.

Though I thought I understood what Mission Possible was all about, Saturday 2 March brought about a whole new revelation. Success is not necessarily being the richest, smartest or most beautiful but it is doing what you can to the best of your ability and being able to sleep at night knowing you did all you possibly could. 

Furthermore, success is not simply a lack of failure but it is the ability to see a new opportunity at every turn. The first edition saw us gain ground towards our target. As we continue building our little Rome on Behalf of Newkidz on the Block, we hold our heads high not for pride’s sake but because we embrace life and the mandate placed upon each individual to live and let live.

Clear Vision

The wise king said, "...Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, so he may run that reads it...."
My heart has been yearning for an answer, for a sign, something to give substance to dream that seems rather flaccid under the weighty odds . As I recall the words of yet another "...no woman carries a child never to reach the season to birth..."
The dream to take part in the Unogwaja challenge at this stage seems far out of reach yet faith is the string that ties what could be with the present reality. So to write the vision down I have hastened to do, that it may be endorsed, maybe not a tablet of stone but upon a heart filled with hope. The vision is therefore clear, do whatever is humanly possible. To envision the end, I have busied myself, not that I may perchance claim honour or worse still bestow it upon myself but that I may do a service that may perchance change the life of at least one or two in Africa.