The journey was undertaken as part of the growing legacy of Unogwaja, which to date has raised over R2.5 million over five years, including over R1 million so far this year for the Unogwaja Light Fund, which generates financial support for community-based organisations in South Africa, focussing on education and skills development.
The Unogwaja Light Fund lies at the heart of the purpose of Unogwaja. The core of each of the organisations supported by the fund, which have become known as Unogwaja Lights, are the principles of empowerment and self-reliance. The Unogwaja Light Fund currently has two Unogwaja Lights: Vukusebenze in Cradock and Lebone Village in Bloemfontein.
"The Unogwaja Light Fund recognises that for many people in our country there is the desire to work and learn and grow, but opportunity is lacking. This is why we want to work with organisations that are providing the chance for people to uplift themselves through skills development, education and serving the community. We believe this is the only way build a genuine positive legacy," said Unogwaja founder, John McInroy.
Unogwaja is inspired by the life of Phil Masterton-Smith who won the Comrades at age 19 in 1931 to become the youngest ever Comrades Marathon winner, a record that still stands today. In 1933, Masterton-Smith could not afford the train fare from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg to run the race, so he cycled up instead. He finished 10th that year. His nickname, which he got from running in the mountains, was Unogwaja, the Zulu word for hare.
In 2011, 78 years later, John McInroy, WP van Zyl, Lourens van Zyl and Paul Blake followed in Masterton-Smith's footsteps, cycling from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg in 10 days and running the Comrades the following day.
This year, Unogwaja expanded to include an on-foot journey inspired by an experience during Unogwaja 2013 when McInroy cycled past a young boy just outside Lady Frere.
When the boy came running to the side of the road with his hand in the air shouting "Unogwaja, Unogwaja", McInroy realised that he wanted to give the whole nation the opportunity to be part of Unogwaja, which is hard if you are on a bicycle.
McInroy and Le Brun's on-foot journey started in Cape Town on Friday, 1 May. Hundreds of people joined in the first kilometre, walking from the Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel to the Grand Parade, holding hands and singing the national anthem. A few inspired locals joined for the entire first day's walk to Stellenbosch. From there, McInroy and Le Brun continued on through Villiersdorp, Trossachs, Montagu, Anysberg, Middelplaas, Gamkapoort, Prince Albert, Klaarstroom, Willowmore, Klipplaat, Jansenville, Pearston, Cradock, Tarkastad, Queenstown, Cala, Elliot, Matatiele, Franklin, Creighton and Richmond, all the way to Pietermaritzburg.
The cycle team departed Cape Town on Thursday, 20 May and consisted of 10 people from four countries: Nicola Eckstein (Cape Town), David Bellairs (Cape Town), Steven Iffland (UK), Martin Hewlett (UK), Rodrigo Joao (Brazil), Nato Amaral (Brazil), Craig Wiseman (Australia), Tarryn Povey (Cape Town), Gary Bannatyne (Pretoria) and Miguel Netto (Cape Town). A group of local cyclists joined them for part of the first day, accompanying them all the way to Franschhoek. The cyclists made their way to Pietermaritzburg through Robertson, Calitzdorp, Willowmore, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Lady Frere, Maclear, Kokstad and Richmond.
The cyclists and walkers arrived together in Pietermaritzburg on 30 May. The people of Pietermaritzburg joined for the last kilometre to the Pietermaritzburg City Hall, where Mayor Chris Ndlela congratulated them. The following day, the 12 Unogwajas took on the ultimate human race, the Comrades Marathon, finishing 15 minutes before the cut-off time.
"Reaching Pietermaritzburg on foot having left Cape Town 30 days before was undoubtedly an incredible feeling. As it was for the cyclists after their 10-day journey across our country. Crossing the Comrades Marathon finish line is always special. So much has gone into this. But the feeling of knowing that this is the start of a journey and not the end was more powerful than ever. The journey itself and the journey to follow are more important than anything else. Unogwaja is important for South Africa and we are building a growing force who believe in this and will walk this path together," said McInroy.
"It has been an immense month for Unogwaja. With the inaugural journey on foot, there have been more people than ever contributing and being part of this important mission in South Africa. It is bringing people together across our land and from overseas to stand together and realise that the responsibility for our future lies within us," concluded McInroy.
For more, go to www.unogwaja.com.
