A young athlete from Gene Louw Primary School in Durbanville, Lente Badenhorst, recently led a heart-warming pre-loved Tekkie Drive that brought the school community together in the true spirit of giving.
Inspired by the need of fellow athletes and a conversation with a friend, Lente took the initiative to bring the idea to life, knowing she could rely on her Gene Louw community to open their hearts.
With the generous support of Gene Louw friends and families, an incredible 80 pairs of shoes were collected — a festive reminder of what can happen when kindness meets action.
“Thank you to every single parent, learner, and friend who donated and helped make this drive such a success,” says her mother, Tanya Badenhorst.
Core value of love
In celebration of the school’s core value of love for the year, the learners arranged the donated shoes to spell the word “love” — “a symbolic and joyful expression of giving from the heart”, says Badenhorst.
“This entire project stands as a practical act of love, reaching beyond the school gates to uplift others,” she says.
Tania Rosser, head of cross-country at the school, played a key role in assisting and guiding the project, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
“A special thank you also goes to her son, Keane Rosser (also a learner at Gene Louw), who helped by creating fun with inspirational videos to spread the word and by lending a hand in packing all the donated shoes,” Badenhorst says.
Spirit of teamwork
The collected shoes were handed over to Raymondo Gabriel, who received them on behalf of Metro North Cross Country and will oversee the distribution to young athletes who need them most, Rosser says.
“This project has not only brightened the season for many cross-country friends, but has also showcased the powerful spirit of teamwork, community and love at Gene Louw Primary,” she says.
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