Little over a year ago, three ultra-distance runners from KZN shared a vision that running and sport, coupled with education and nutrition could change the lives of entire communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Together, they decided to launch an NGO called the Southern Lodestar Foundation. Through the foundation, they run feeding schemes at non-fee paying schools, providing thousands of school children with a nutritionally balanced meal every day.

Their philosophy is simple: No-one can reach their full-potential on an empty stomach.

Most recently, they have joined forces with the Tiger Brands Foundation to support Isibongo Primary School in Mphophomeni, a rural town that lies just outside of Howick in KZN. The Southern Lodestar Foundation have built a new kitchen facility for the school which has enabled the Tiger Brands Foundation in-school breakfast programme to be rolled-out to all learners at the school, providing them with a healthy breakfast every day.

The Foundation also believes that running and sport can inspire positive change at a grass roots level; which is why they are keen to support passionate runners who show commitment to train and determination to succeed but who do not have the resources to realise their full potential. The aim is for these runners to carry the message of hope and inspire others who look up to them as role-models.

This year, the Foundation was proud to be able to support four ultra-marathon runs realise their dream of running Comrades Marathon. All four of these runners are self-trained and self-supported, often sacrificing comfort by using donated kit that doesn’t fit properly, not training efficiently through a lack of time and/or nutrition or simply not being able to afford to enter qualifying races. All four finished Comrades Marathon 2018 in sub-7½ hours.