Lala Cele is putting in the Comrades kilometers to help iZamazulu Nkosi Old Age Home in her home town of KwaMashu.
Cele, 48, who runs under the Hollywoodbets banner, is looking forward to the ultramarathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban next Sunday.
Looking after and staying with her mother, who turned 83 this year, is what inspired her to run for the elderly. She said her love for running grew when she ran to lose weight.
“I started running back in 2014. I was only doing it with the aim of losing weight. Since then I have been consistent with healthy eating and exercising.”
Cele said her best memories as a runner came when she reached the finish line. She has run the Comrades three times, but she will consider this year’s competition as the first one.
“It feels so good when I cross the finish line in a race. That is the best moment for me,” she said.
“What I have been saying for the past two years is that I take it as if I did not run Comrades. I consider this my first time running the Comrades Marathon after it was postponed because of Covid-19,” said Cele.
She said it was overwhelming for her to be running Comrades during Women’s Month.
“We are women who make things happen and we can change situations if we love and support one another,” said Cele.
Comrades Marathon Association’s marketing and communications manager Delaine Cools said about R2.6 million had been raised for charities.
“Initially 446 runners registered to Race4Charity, but only 234 have been able to raise any funds. Our top charity fund-raiser has raised R456 163. So far, R2.265 million has been raised through R4C and R332 000 via runners’ donations upon entry,” said Cools.
Cele is urging all people to take the initiative to make a difference for their communities. People wanting to support her charity can call her at 073 469 3662.
The Independent on Saturday