The Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, with support from the Vhembe department, catered for some 140 para-athletes, officials, and volunteers during the IsAbility Sports Club Fit-to-Fly event at Louis Trichardt High School's Leeupark sports grounds on 6 September. This year's theme was "Activate Your Spring", based on the idea that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.
"Apart from the fun run organised by the Skillies [Soutpansberg Athletics Club], we held our Limpopo senior athletes area championship, which also served as an opportunity for athletes to try to achieve qualifying standards for nationals next year. Nine areas were represented, namely Giyani, Thulamela, Collins Chabane, Polokwane, Maruleng, Tzaneen, Blouberg, Musina. Tzaneen and Makhado hotly contested for area champs, but Tzaneen were the ultimate victors," said Sandy James of the IsAbility Sports Club.
Apart from the provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's contribution, municipalities also supported the event by transporting athletes to the venue. "All in all, it was a day where we saw many different organisations and governmental bodies joining hands to activate our community and others across the province to embrace their opportunities and abilities. We give glory to the Lord for this, because He commands His blessing where there is unity," said James.
Special thanks went to all who made the day possible, including MMK, KFC (Food City), Johan Kirsten from Ocean Basket and OJ's, DJ Jonty, Maud Myburgh and her ambulance, Matrix Security, Laurie Bannatyne from Talisman, and Surat Patel. "We would also like to thank Louis Trichardt High School for the use of their Leeupark facility, and Madeleine Nel for coordinating that. Anel Roets and Bigboy Nefale from the Skillies deserve a big thank you for organising the fun run, as do Pastor Jan Venter and the Guardian Angels from the High School for the amazing Praise in the Park. To the SPCA stalls who were there ... thank you for joining hands for the sake of the community. We appreciate you all," said James.
The IsAbility Sports Club was also blessed to receive a second track chair at their most recent Fit-to-Fly event, donated by Food City. "We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Emanuel Pessegueiro from Food City for the new chair, as well as for the KFC support for the day. Your commitment to the broader and inclusive community is remarkable and highly valued," said James.
Enjoying his new chair was the club's junior Jumping Kids ambassador in Limpopo, Vhuthuhawe Nemutandani. He went on to race a 2 km fun run in his track chair, obtaining first place in the track chair category. In second place was Bethuel Matshishevhe, also from Makhado.