Samuel, Cameron, Luzuko, and Sherwin are four resilient men who have experienced their share of hard blows. Having found refuge and support at New Hope SA, they’re running to raise funds for the organisation that’s helping them rebuild their lives.
Cape Town, South Africa (07 February 2025) – Four determined and inspiring men are training hard as they prepare to take the starting line of the Two Oceans 21km Half-Marathon on 6 April.
Samuel, Cameron, Luzuko and Sherwin will be participating in the race for the first time with the hopes of raising R8,000 for New Hope SA, a place that has become a refuge and compassionate support system as they recover from homelessness.
The four individuals are best described as resilient, persevering and positive. After relocating to the deep South, they have discovered a great passion for staying active, particularly enjoying swimming in the ocean.
“When I was running the past weeks I fell in love with running. It’s also for my own benefit, for my health. I want to become fit, it’s one of the goals I set for myself,” says resident, Cameron.
Another runner shared that they had always been sporty and that finally getting to do the marathon was a dream come true.
At New Hope, these men have found a new lease on life and are filled with renewed enthusiasm to challenge themselves by trying new things.
Understanding homelessness
New Hope exists to find holistic solutions to homelessness. In 2020, New Hope began operating a transitional home for up to 10 men recovering and rebuilding their lives after experiencing homelessness.
According to the organisation’s Managing Director Leanne Porter, homelessness is often widely misunderstood as a personal problem or a result of an individual’s failure instead of a societal problem that’s caused by cracks in the systems that affect all of us — such as education, the labour market, healthcare, child welfare, housing and more.
“Ultimately, poverty is the single biggest predictor of homelessness, and like most people experiencing homelessness, our residents know all too well that poverty limits a person’s options and makes them more vulnerable to trauma, mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and other issues.
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“The sudden loss of a job, a family breakdown, a workplace injury, or unexpected expense end up being tipping points for many people who were already struggling to make ends meet and were unable to access adequate support or services,” Porter explains.
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Running the distance for much-needed funds
Each runner has set a goal to raise R2,000, and all the funds raised will go directly into New Hope’s programmes and immediate needs like rent and groceries.
These funds will help the organisation close its current funding gap and continue providing a supportive community, one-on-one and group counselling and psychosocial support services, job training, literacy support, and a work-based programme that enables the guys to earn an income while working towards long-term goals.
“We’re deeply moved that the guys want to give back to New Hope in this way – it’s such a great vote of confidence in our team and our mission to make sure everyone in SA has a place to call home,” adds a grateful Porter.
To support this incredible team and their fundraising mission, visit New Hope’s GivenGain page.
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