Michelle is a primary school teacher in Cape Town. She’s gearing up to run a half marathon in support of animal welfare in Vrygrond. Before the starting gun has even gone off, she’s already nearing the halfway mark of her fundraising goal!
Cape Town, South Africa (22 September 2026) – The little learners of Kirstenhof Primary have a real-life hero to look up to. Their Grade 2 teacher, Mrs Michelle Coyne, is gearing up to run a half marathon at 61 years old. She’s doing it for the animals in the disadvantaged community of Vrygrond.
AfriPaw and its animal welfare partners have helped many families care for their pets by assisting hundreds of animals through its Vrygrond animal clinic days. Hosted monthly, the clinics help the community by making veterinary services accessible, providing free sterilisation and offering education around responsible pet ownership.
“When you live in a disadvantaged community, but you love your pet dearly, you do whatever it takes to get them to the AfriPaw clinic once a month. There they are given a health check, vaccinated, dewormed and sterilised.” shares Michelle, who’s gunning for the finish line at AfriPaw’s half marathon taking place in October.
Photo Credit: Michelle Coyne
This isn’t Mrs Coyne’s first rodeo. Last year, she ran the marathon and raised R28,000 for the animal welfare organisation. The year before, her fundraising efforts brought in R23,000 for AfriPaw.
This year, the Cape Town primary school teacher has already raised R13,299 – around 44% of her goal for the half marathon. All this before the starting gun has even gone off! Despite injuries that have kept her from running for months, Mrs Coyne will be lacing up for the cause in just a few weeks.
“I am aiming to raise R30,000 for the clinics that provide this service and care (although my dream is to raise R50,000!)” she tells us.
Photo Credit: Michelle Coyne
“Money raised through the half marathon will make a huge difference to the wellbeing and quality of life of township pets in Vrygond and surrounds. Funds will be used towards the monthly Pet Clinics, where pet owners bring their pets to be dipped and de-wormed free of charge and receive critical veterinary care. The programme encourages responsible pet ownership, which includes sterilisation, provision of food at subsidised prices and a rewards programme where pet owners earn a kennel and mattress for their sterilised pet through regular pet clinic attendance.”
Michelle says that sterilisation is a cause that drives her – helping to keep pet populations under control and prevent needless suffering before it can happen.
“A particular section of this project that is close to my heart is the sterilisation of animals. By taking part in the run, I will be helping to raise funds to assist them to continue this vital work. For the price of a bag of groceries, countless animals are prevented from being born into a life of suffering. Each sterilisation helps to bring an end to pet overpopulation. Sterilising one dog will not change the world. But for that one dog, the world will change forever.”
The AfriPaw Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, 4 October. Michelle is one of 24 participants taking part – and she’s at the very top of the leaderboard, having raised the highest amount so far! Other participants following closely behind include Claire Mew, Elaine Harvey, David Potgieter and Brenda Coomer – among many others running to rally support for animal welfare.
AfriPaw has a total goal of raising R300,000 by the finish line. If you’d like to support Michelle in helping them get there, click here!
Sources: Linked above.
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She brings heart, curiosity, and a deep love for all things local to every story she tells – whether it be about conservation, mental health, or SA's everyday heroes. When she’s not scouting for good things, you’ll likely find her on a game drive, lost in a book, or serenading Babycat – her four-legged son.
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