10 June 2024
Chaeli Mycroft, the co-founder of The Chaeli Campaign, visited Kearsney College on Friday, ahead of Sunday’s 97th running of the Comrades Marathon.
For her visit to the Botha’s Hill school, she was accompanied by her running partner, Mark “Muddy” Ferreira, with whom she had completed six ultra-marathons in the lead-up to the Comrades Marathon. They were warmly welcomed by Kearsney’s Deputy Head Prefect Matt Lamplough and Head Prefect Anele Cele before their successful Comrades Marathon run on Sunday.
Kearsney College served as their base on day five of their ultra binge. In time-honoured Kearsney fashion, on Sunday, she received a special cheer as she passed the College gates during the Comrades Marathon.
Mycroft, who has cerebral palsy, is a renowned ability activist. Her efforts won her the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2011, which was presented to her by Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire.
The following year, at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago, she was awarded the Peace Summit Medal for Social Activism by Nobel Peace Laureate F. W. de Klerk, on behalf of all Nobel Peace Laureates.
In 2013, Mycroft received the World of Children Awards Youth Category award, which is presented to a young person, under the age of 21, significant contributions to the lives of other children.
Her achievements also include summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, in 2015, and becoming the first wheelchair athlete, along with Anita Engelbrecht, to complete the Comrades Marathon in 2016. This followed Mycroft successfully lobbying the Comrades Marathon to change their rules and allow wheelchair users to participate in the world-famous event.
In 2017, she claimed her back-to-back Comrades Marathon medal. That same year she was also awarded the Turner Social Change Prize.
She received recognition as an Obama Foundation #AfricanLeader in 2018. Then, in 2019, she was appointed to the Global Leadership Council of Generation Unlimited.
In 2023, she won the Forbes Woman Africa Young Achiever Award.
Find out more about Chaeli Mycroft and support her causes at her website Chaeli Mycroft, on Facebook, and on the World of Children website.
Alternately, contact info@chaelicampaign to see how you can support the Chaeli Campaign and change the lives of disabled children across South Africa.
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