Nkhetheni Masupa, a well-known long-distance runner from Welkom, will continue with his quest to run all seven Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) by participating in the London and New York marathons.
“I was very lucky to receive an invitation from the SportsforUbuntu charity organisation to help them raise funds through running the London Marathon on 27 April,” he says.
Masupa (52) is helping to raise funds to support the Connected Planet Foundation. He says the foundation believes that everyone has the right to connect with the natural world, whatever their background.
“They sponsor conservation field trips for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to visit places like the Kruger National Park; giving them the opportunity to experience the wonders of the natural world, as well as giving them a platform to help protect it. To help, look up the Connected Planet Foundation on justgiving.com and follow the steps to make a donation.”
The London Marathon has raised over 1 billion pounds for charities across the world since its launch on 21 March 1981.
“This is why the London Marathon is well known as the largest fundraising event in the world.
“I am thrilled to get the rare opportunity to compete in this prestigious event.
“Only 50 000 runners were selected from a record pool of 840 318 applications from around the world, and I am one of the luckiest to be at the starting line.”
Masupa will be running the gruesome 73,3 km Kosmos 3-in-1 this Saturday, 8 March, in Secunda; the 50 km Om Die Dam race the following Saturday in Hartebeespoort; and the 56 km and 21 km Two Oceans on 5 and 6 April in Cape Town; before the London Marathon.
“Later this year, I will be out to America for the New York City Marathon on 3 November. This event is by far the largest marathon in the world, with over 2 million spectators each year.”
The Team Vitality Twins, Nkhetheni Masupa and Abe Nkomo, got their tickets to compete in this event through their performances last year in the Berlin Marathon, in Germany.
