Bloem Runner Shows Comrades Marathon Really Is About Comradery

A keen – and kind – Bloemfontein runner, Theuns Potgieter, has shown just what the legendary Comrades Marathon is all about. Comradery. The spirit of unity and helping each other.

On Saturday Theuns posted a message looking for somebody who needed a running watch, because he had a spare one.

He wrote: “I have a Garmin 225 Running watch that I want to donate to someone that can’t afford a running watch… and it must be someone that will be running the 2017 Comrades marathon. I will also pay the delivery charges to anywhere in South Africa. I will also make sure the watch will reach that person before race day!”

Capetonian Candice Fraser was one of the people who responded to him. She told him about an “amazing man” that she has had the pleasure of knowing for the last few years – Melikhaya Peteni.

She was ELATED when Theuns decided to donate his spare watch to Melikhaya.

On Wednesday Candice wrote on the Comrades Marathon group page: “Today I had the biggest honour of presenting [Melikhaya] with his new watch!!!!

“I wish I could describe this man’s excitement when he saw his new gift!!!! This is a man who pours his heart and soul into every run.

“He has never been able to see what his pace was, or what his HR was. He put his new watch on and started running up and down to see how it works ❤❤❤

“Theuns, you have an amazing heart! And thank you for making this happen for Melikhaya.”

Theuns told SAPeople: “I had an extra watch, so I thought it would be great if I donate it to someone that needs one for the Comrades. It is very difficult to run such a distance without knowing your pace!”

Watch out for Theuns at this year’s Comrades on 4 June 2017 – his race number is 14266.

Thank you Theuns, Candice and Melikhaya – #MakingSouthAfricaSpecial #InspiringSouthAfricans!

MORE

Comrades Marathon group page:
www.facebook.com/groups/2573515385/

Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com