Thabani Mndebela isn’t just a pro MMA fighter and a doctor. He’s also a loving dad who ran 30km dragging a tyre and carrying weights to show the world what it means to raise a neurodiverse child.
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (12 September 2025) – The Pathways Centre marked its 30th anniversary this year with a 30km race to celebrate the work it does for children with severe cognitive and physical disabilities.
Families, friends and supporters turned out in force. But one parent, in particular, made sure every step carried a message.
Thabani Mndebela, professional MMA fighter, practising doctor, and proud dad, ran the entire 30km course pulling a tyre and gripping 3kg dumbbells. His reason? His son, who attends Pathways, is on the autism spectrum.
Thabani wanted to give the crowd a glimpse of the extra weight parents raising neurodiverse children carry, with love and a smile, every single day.
“My thing is, parents with neurodiverse kids have an extra load on their shoulders and backs however we still carry that load through trials and tribulations,” he explained.
The idea came to him just a day before the race, while cleaning his office.
“When I told my wife she thought I was mad and that’s when I said I am really doing this!”
It wasn’t about speed or finishing in style. In fact, he was the last to cross the line, and that was the point.
“I was the last one to finish because of the extra load weighing me down, those who ran the race without extra weight finished faster than me,” he said.
For Thabani, the tyre and weights were a powerful symbol of the journey parents walk with their neurodiverse children. Slower, harder, but no less determined
“A neurotypical child achieves its milestones earlier than a neurodiverse child, no matter the time it takes us to reach the goal… it’s our responsibility to keep pushing and to never give up,” he said.
His wife, Nelly, who had only completed her first-ever 10km two weeks prior, joined him on the course. Together, they turned the day into a celebration of their son, and a show of solidarity with every parent navigating life with autism and other forms of neurodivergence.
Thabani often wears mismatched socks and shoes to honour the neurodiverse community. Just an extra quirk we love about this fighter, doctor, and dad proving that true strength lies in perseverance, patience and love.
“Autism Strong. Thank you Pathways for what you do for our little champions.”
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