Latest news with #Ratanjee
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Berea resident running towards a better world
THE Comrades Marathon runner Mahesh Ratanjee will be among scores of novices and social athletes who will take on the 49th Down Run of the ultra-marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban this weekend. 'I have been following a Comrades training plan with the help of a few coaches,' said Ratanjee, who will run the marathon for the fourth time. 'My plan is to stay calm and pass my checkpoints, absorbing all the positive energy from my dedicated seconders who will help me to get to the finish on time.' Ratanjee will run the Comrades to raise awareness and funds for the Durban NPO, Community Chest. The organisation focuses on early childhood development (ECD), children, youth and family care, and residential care for the elderly and homeless, mentally handicapped, and disabled people. Ratanjee, a member of the Durban Athletic Club, said he chose the organisation because it resonated with his own life experience and passions to make the world a better place for children. 'My wife and I lost our first child. Raising funds for this charity it allows me to help children in memory of my daughter,' said Ratanjee. Also read: Glenwood resident laces up for Comrades Marathon debut He aims to raise R200 000 which will go towards helping to provide nutrition and ECD education to 7845 children throughout KZN. When Sunday hits, Ratanjee says he will start the day off with a prayer. 'Take some time to remain still and absorb what I have trained for. Then I go out for a short and easy run just to activate my muscles. We normally run together with many other Comrades runners that we don't know. This helps me to come to terms with my Comrades journey.' As for how his Comrades journey began, Ratanjee said, 'It was my childhood dream to run Comrades because my dad and aunt were huge fans. They used to be the first two to get up early and watch the race from start to finish. This inspired me, but it took many years to build up the courage to make it to the start line. My first Comrades was the most challenging because it was the biggest race that I was attempting. I almost gave up just after halfway, but our club secretary calmed me down and motivated me not to give up. I was overjoyed when I crossed the finish line before the cut-off time and that was my biggest victory.' To help Ratanjee reach his goal, visit For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Meet the Comrades superheroes
Dean Wight and Mahesh Ratanjee are vying for the top spot as top Comrades charity collectors in this year's race. They're the best of frenemies in a very different but just as competitive Comrades race. Dean Wight, 56, a veteran of 31 marathons, has won it six times. For Mahesh Ratanjee this will be his fourth Comrades and he stands as last year's winner. The race - in which the two are neck a neck - is to be the top fundraiser for the Comrades official charities. Both are aiming to raise over R200 000. Both say the charity component helps keep them going through the race itself. Wright, who runs with Queensburgh Harriers, is supporting the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust. In the eight years he has been running for charity he has raised more than R2.7 million. He actually counts having run 33 Comrades - although two were virtual during the Covid lockdowns. His best year was in R2021 when he raised R538 000 running 90km around his garden. He remembers it being Easter Monday and receiving a large donation from a devoted husband, whose wife, a Comrades runner, had died from covid. Ratanjee admits he's 'just a newbie'. He runs with Durban Athletics Club, which he says is the second oldest Athletics club in the world after London. He's raising funds for the Community Chests of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. His first attempt at Comrades was cancelled with the Covid lockdowns and it's only since that he has been running for charity. Last year he raised the top amount - R197 000. 'You kicked me to the kerb,' Wight says. 'Hey, you just gave me a break,' Ratanjee replies. Ratanjee runs for the Community Chest because the funds raised support an issue dear to his heart - early childhood development. 'My wife and I lost our first child, a girl. We've been fortunate to have two sons since, but I run in her memory. Then last year I lost my 11-year-old niece, so I run on behalf of two angels,' he says. 'They are my superheroes,' he says, showing his Superhero cape that Community Chest runners are given. Wight points to the superhero Captain Creme Soda emblazoned on his bakkie. He runs a company called Beloved Long Runs which helps train people for Comrades. His whole life spent in the sports world - in sports stores and with shoe makers. He ran his first Comrades in 1988 and has had 'many years of practice'. He started running at age 11 when a schoolboy friend asked him to join him on a fun run. His grandfather ran the second Comrades in 1922. After his first race it was his goal to get a green number - then 20. Now it's 50. He tells how a HACT volunteer approached him to run for the charity. It was a volunteer named Sally Jones. 'I went to meet this lady and ended up saying yes. I said 'let's go for R10 000'. And then I thought, I know more than 1 000 runners and if each gives R10, that's over R100 000. I phoned her back with the new offer. And then a schoolboy friend phoned to say that if I raised over R100 000 he'd throw in another R100 000,' he said. Ratanjee, who admits he's never going to be upfront with an 11 hour 47 finish last year, enjoyed running at school and used to participate in the 3 000 meters. His dad and aunt were big Comrades fans. 'But it took me 45 years to rope myself into the race,' he says. 'Last year was special as one of my school mates who beat me in that 3000m contest ran with me,' he says. 'And he's doing it again this year.' Asked about their advice to fellow runners, Wight says to pace yourself and 'enjoy your day'. 'Start slow and finish strong," Ratanjee pipes in. Gordon Mc Donald, director of the Community Chest, thanked the athletes who run for charity. 'Runners put in their heart and soul. All the charities work with their runners, make a fuss of them. It can be lonely on the road, and charities provide a purpose and community for many. It's something bigger than themselves.' Then as we finish one of them checks the comrades charity app. Some "whippersnapper" has jumped over both of them. They vow to redouble their efforts.
