Approximately 100 runners showed up at the starting line on Rowan road to partake in the Mostertsdrift Marathon with distances ranging from 3km to 21.1km in Mostertsdrift. PHOTO: Supplied/ Ayla Westdyk
Despite extreme rain, more than 100 runners participated in the Mostertsdrift Marathon on 19 April, aiming to raise funds for two local charities, the Youth Outreach and the Green Door Project.
While original plans had included a marathon-distance 42.2km route, weather conditions prompted organisers to scale down to a maximum distance of 21.1km.
The event raised R30 000 through the sale of entry tickets which ranged in price from R150 to R500. The initiative grew into a community-project event, with over 200 tickets sold and about 100 participants taking part.
Kem Westdyk, the organiser of the race, described the event as a community-driven initiative, centred on supporting local organisations. “We just wanted to create something where people could come together, run, and at the same time contribute to causes that are making a difference in the community,” he said.
Runners’ experience
The rain was so severe that Stellenbosch experienced flooding on 19 April. Despite the flooding, over 100 competitors arrived to take part in the race to support the cause.
Crissio Roberts, one of the runners, said he had heard about the race through his church and was motivated by the cause. He described the experience as physically demanding, especially as it was his first long-distance race, but said that the challenging weather conditions did not deter participants. “It was a tough one, my first time running something like this, and my legs feel like jelly, but the rain and thunder did not stop us,” Roberts said.
“The trail was tough, and on top of that you have me in like deep water as well, it’s all for a good cause, that’s why a lot of us didn’t stop, given the weather conditions,” said Reuben Geyser, a fellow runner.
Joshua Misdorp agreed. “The conditions were very fun to run in, very tough, I never ran in knee-deep water before, but super tough, everyone was really encouraging,” he said.
“The weather was awful, but [the volunteers] remained positive, smiling and always willing to help. They kept checking in, asking if we wanted more soup or something to drink, which really made a difference,” said Stephanie Parker, a participant.
Runners received medals upon completing the race, handcrafted by David Kamwendo, a post-graduate student at the department of forestry at Stellenbosch University (SU).
Youth Outreach is one of the two charities that the Mostertsdrift Marathon raised funds for. Charleen Vermeulen, Takia Strydom, Vaneesa van Niekerk, Steyn Calitz and Rochell Serdyn were in attendance at the race on 19 April. PHOTO: Supplied/ Youth Outreach Charleen Vermeulen
Youth Outreach
A portion of funds raised went to Youth Outreach, an organisation based in Stellenbosch and Jamestown, that provides a stable environment and food support for children who have difficulty in their own homes.
Charleen Vermeulen, manager and board member of Youth Outreach, emphasised the importance of community involvement, such as the race in Mostertsdrift, in sustaining the organisation’s work and encouraging broader public participation in their efforts. “We cannot do what we do without the community’s help and support,” she said.
Takia Strydom, the social worker for the children’s home, said the facility cares for children removed from their homes due to circumstances such as substance and physical abuse. “Our role is to provide a safe and structured environment where children can begin to heal and develop,” she said.
Alongside residential care, Youth Outreach also runs a community-based drop-in centre that works directly with children still living at home, aiming to strengthen family structures and provide early intervention support where needed.
“We do not only focus on the child, but also on the family, because that support system is important for long-term change,” said Vanessa van Niekerk, drop-in centre’s social worker.
The Green Door Project is the second recipient of the race funds. Gathered together with Youth Outreach at the starting line on Rowan Road in Mostertsdrift, Chanene van As, CEO and founder of Green Door Project, shares what the initiative is about with runners. PHOTO: Supplied/ Youth Outreach Charleen Vermeulen
The Green Door Project
The Green Door Project is a community-based learning centre in Jamestown that supports a group of girls through structured after-school programmes focused on academic assistance, nutrition, creative activities, and developing life skills.
Chanene van As, CEO and founder of the Green Door Project, said, “We work with a small group, which means we can really invest in each girl and respond to her individual needs.”
Van As said funds raised would be used to strengthen both the centre’s infrastructure and its direct support to the girls. She explained that key priorities included building a covered outdoor space to expand programme activities and to assist with food distribution, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
“It will give us space to do more with the girls and also support the practical needs we have on a daily basis,” Van As said.
“It was pouring with rain, but in the back of our heads we said, “it’s for charity”, so I think that the initiative behind the run really helped to motivate and change our perspective on the weather,” Parker said.