A long walk to Madiba
Six backpackers from the Feet4Feat campaign passed through Boksburg on their way to meet Nelson Mandela, on Friday, October 17.
Flying the South African flag, the six appeared to still be in high spirits, even after a seven-month journey by foot, from Cape Town.
According to the man who started it all, Antony Esterhuysen, the walk is symbolic of the footsteps taken by former freedom fighter Mandela.
“From Cape Town we have carried with us a message of unity, showing a committed attitude to helping others where we can,” says Esterhuysen.
All the men have left their jobs and have packed what they could into backpacks to dedicate their lives to making a change.
Darryl Atwell says they can’t wait to deliver the flag, which has been signed by everyone who has contributed to their journey in one way or another, and also the letters from children addressed to the former stateman.
Other members include Uncle Bert Muyer, who the group met in the Eastern Cape for the first time a few months ago, along with Willem du Plooy and Rudy Engelbrecht, who joined the cause when the walkers passed Mandela’s homeland, Qunu.
Robert Grinham was the last to join the group. This is after he challenged the pack to walk to Pongola, in KwaZulu-Natal, which they did.
The group of men have also hosted sporting activities and a children’s art competition in the iNgwavuma area, in support of Mark of the Rhino, an organisation aimed at saving the rhinos.
After the men reach Mandela and hand over the flag and letter to the former President, they will continue on to Limpopo, then to the Orange River, heading towards the West Coast.
The six men have received much attention from the public and the media throughout their journey.
“We would like to thank everyone who has supported us and we hope that this story of six strangers who have united for a cause and become friends in the process inspires more South Africans to come together for a better South Africa,” says Atwell.
