'They all touched all of us in a very special way' - Scores attend memorial service with plans for a memorial run
Scores of runners descended upon the Renew Church in Fourways yesterday evening to pay their last respects to four members of the running community whose sudden passing has left the community in shock. Siraj Mbale, Adolf Ramalanzwa, Seza Phiri and Mbali Hlatswayo all died in car accident on Sunday 2 March on their journey back from Durban to Johannesburg where they had gone to run the Best of the Best Marathon.
So moved were the organisers of the race by the passing of the four runners, that they sent a delegation from KwaZulu-Natal to attend yesterday’s memorial service. Led by race director Mthoko Khuzwayo, their entourage included race ambassador Bongmusa Mthembu who spoke on behalf the race organisers. Thanking the Gauteng-based athletes for their support of the Durban event, Khuzwayo called for a memorial run to be staged in honour of the four adding that the Best of the Best Marathon will always remember the four for their passion for road running that led them to travel across provinces to do what they loved.
"This was the second biggest event in KwaZulu-Natal with the support of people all over Gauteng, especially Gauteng. My heart is sore that at the end of if all, this happened. I remember these guys arriving to run the race with energy and joy. But I take comfort in the fact that they died doing what they loved. My wish is to see a memorial run to celebrate their lives."
As Mbale and Phiri belonged to Running with Tumi Sole AC, while Hlatswayo and Ramalanzwa were Waterfall AC members the two clubs worked together for the success of the memorial service which was also attended by Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Acting President Karabo Mabilo and Comrades Marathon board member Brenda Marolen also present. Waterfall AC Chairperson Kuye Mthethwa echoed Khyuzwayo's sentiments saying that they are in the process of organising a memorial run to celebrate the lives of Mbale, Phiri, Hlatswayo and Ramalanzwa.
With the families of the four also present on a day when the programme carried on late into the evening as runners sang songs in honour of their late comrades, Running with Tumi Sole founder Tumi Sole thanked all clubs for attending (the likes of Fat Cats AC and Run Alex AC were also present) and called on them to work together to celebrate the lives of their members.
"They all touched all of us in a very special way. We are all shocked and we cry with their families. The running community has come out in numbers which is testament that your loved ones, were also loved by us," he said addressing the mounting families. "To Waterfall...sisonke. It's all about collaboration. It's about time for us to come together in remembrance of our brothers and sisters. So far as this memorial run is concerned we ask that it be a joint event."
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