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Athletes walk the walk on HIV/AIDS education
Botho Molosankwe. 23 November 2005. The Star. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Alarming HIV/AIDS statistics revealing that South Africa has an HIV infection rate of 30 percent have seen sports heroes throw their muscle behind the red HIV/AIDS ribbon campaign.
A team of eight athletes will spend eight days on the road walking about 300km from Hammanskraal outside Tshwane to Nelspruit in Mpumalanga to raise funds and promote HIV/AIDS awareness.
The annual Sport Heroes Walk Against HIV/AIDS, which was initiated in 2002, has raised R2,5-million.
The walk, which starts on Wednesday, includes pint-size boxing world champ "Baby Jake" Matlala; former Banyana Banyana captain Desiree Ellis; Josiah Thugwane, who won the marathon gold at the 1996 Olympic Games; Protea women's cricketer Daleen Terblanche; SABC sports presenter Cynthia Tshaka; world karate champion Artulu Ballosini; boxing champ Lihlohonolo Ledwaba; and marathon legend Zithulele Sinqe.
On the way to Mpumalanga, the athletes will stop off at various towns and conduct sporting clinics and discuss the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
Under the scorching sun, during gale-force winds or heavy rain, they will walk about 15km a day with the hope that their efforts in spreading the message on how to beat the pandemic will play a role in seeing the infection rate decline.
According to Matlala, a four-times world boxing champion, sports heroes receive immense support from communities. A father of two boys, he is determined to do his part in fighting HIV/AIDS.
"I have been taking part in the race since its inception three years ago and will continue doing so. One does not get paid for this and I will be leaving my family and business for eight days for a good cause," he said.
The effects of what HIV/AIDS does is something with which Terblanche is confronted frequently. As a teacher at a technical school on the East Rand, the 36-year-old watches helplessly as pupils become infected.
"It is a reality that HIV/AIDS is there and it kills. Some of my pupils do not return to college to finish their studies, and in most cases we find it is because they have died of HIV/AIDS."
Terblanche said people needed motivation and education in order to prevent the infection rate from rising.
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka congratulated the sports heroes for their efforts. She said the walk was a build-up to the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children because women and children were usually victims.
"Statistics have revealed that married women between 25 and 35 are getting infected at a high rate.
"Homes have become unsafe, and the challenge as sports heroes is to talk to the men. HIV/AIDS is a disease that one can get unknowingly, and it has a stigma. Responding to the pandemic is an ongoing challenge," the deputy president said.
The money raised from the race will be donated to hospices in Johannesburg and Mpumalanga.
Ellis said it was disappointing that, despite all the efforts by anti-HIV/AIDS activists, the infection rate continued to escalate.
"But we have to keep working and bringing the message across because that's the only way HIV/AIDS will be beaten," the 42-year-old said.
The team will be accompanied by masseurs, physiotherapists and doctors and will finish on December 1, which is World AIDS Day. |
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