While thousands pushed through the final stretch of the Comrades Marathon, it was a barefoot cheerleader named Maddyson Shepard who caught the eye (and heart) of one runner from Wimpy, leading to a feel-good moment that’s now being celebrated across South Africa.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (14 June 2025) – While thousands of athletes were pushing through pain and chasing the finish line during this year’s Comrades Marathon, one young South African was quietly stealing the show, not by running the race but by lifting the spirits of those who were.
Maddyson Shepard, a Grade 7 learner from Northlands Primary School, was standing barefoot near the 9km-to-go mark on Sunday, 8 June, encouraging every single runner who passed her with warmth, energy and the kind of kindness that doesn’t ask for anything in return.
Videos of Maddyson’s spontaneous cheering, shared widely across social media, show her jogging alongside exhausted runners, gently patting their backs and offering heartfelt encouragement. And while most of us were standing on the sidelines, she stepped onto the tarmac to say: you’ve got this… without needing to say a word. One of the runners lucky enough to be cheered on by her was Fred McKenzie, who just happened to be celebrating his 20th Comrades Marathon this year. Fred, who works at Wimpy, was so moved by her kindness that he tracked her down after the race to say thank you.
And yesterday, Wimpy made sure to show their appreciation too.
“While runners were giving it their all on Sunday, 8 June, at the Comrades Marathon, Maddyson Shepard was doing something just as powerful,” Wimpy posted to social media on 13 June.
“Standing at the 9km-to-go mark, she welcomed each and every runner into Durban with energy, warmth and heart. One of the people she welcomed was Wimpy’s very own Fred McKenzie… Today, we visited Maddyson and her Grade 7 classmates at Northlands Primary School with some Wimpy vouchers in recognition of her incredible spirit. Because at Wimpy, you’re always welcome, especially when you show up for others the way she did.”
The post sparked a flood of love from the public, with messages celebrating the young cheerleader for her compassion, strength and natural ability to uplift others.
One comment read, “Maddy our family has always known what a loving, kindhearted young lady you are… What you did on Sunday will stay in the hearts of many of those athletes to whom you showed your compassion and encouragement. I am so proud to call you my granddaughter.”
Another added, “You’re an inspiration, Maddyson! Thank you for your support and encouragement when they needed it most! This is one of the BEST stories of #Comrades2025!”
And one that truly sums it up, “Maddy, you’re such an inspiration ❤️ and the love, caring and compassion you showed on Sunday shows what a lovely young lady you are.”
At the core of Maddyson’s story is something incredibly powerful: a reminder that kindness costs nothing but it can mean everything. Her barefoot cheering might have lasted only moments but it left an impression that will be felt for years.
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