Cape Town Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews will be dusting off his running shoes for a good cause as the annual Sanlam Cape Town Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 20.
Andrews will be running for the Soles for Souls campaign, an initiative dedicated to providing 42,200 pairs of school shoes to children in need across Cape Town.
To show his commitment, Andrews will be taking on the grueling 42.2km run, a symbolic gesture he has aimed at rallying support for children from vulnerable communities.
“In Cape Town’s most under-resourced areas, many families struggle to meet their basic needs, often unable to afford essentials such as school shoes for their children,” Andrews said.
“These shoes are more than just part of a uniform – they offer dignity, comfort, and protection. For many learners, not having proper footwear means facing bullying, social exclusion, and missed school days, which affects their education and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.”
The ‘Soles for Souls’ campaign seeks to address this by raising 42,200 pairs of shoes, ensuring that no child in Cape Town goes without proper footwear. By partnering with the Santa Shoebox Project, known for its work in providing gifts to children in need, and the online fundraising platform GivenGain, the campaign aims to make a lasting impact in these communities, including those supported through the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP).
How to get involved:
- Support the cause: Individuals can donate directly through the GivenGain platform to help reach the 42,200 school shoe goal.
- Join the movement: attend the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on October 20, and encourage others to contribute. There will be four supporters’ stations at the following locations: Rondebosch Common, N2/Main Road intersection, Sea Point Swimming Pool, and outside the SABC Building in Sea Point.
- Share and spread the word: amplify the message by sharing campaign details on social media, tagging Andrews, and using the hashtag #SolesForSouls.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL