Local athletes’ shoes are bound for Zambia

Local athletes’ shoes are bound for Zambia

8 August 2012

RUNNING shoes which have pounded the roads around Down District are on their second life in Africa.

Last year Murlough Athletics Club, in Dundrum, asked runners taking part in their GR8 Dundrum Run to bring along their old trainers for recycling and transportation to Africa.

Hundreds of pairs were collected on race day and the club teamed up with the U Foundation who organised for the shoes to be transported to Zambia.

The shoes have now arrived in the village of Siankaba, on the banks of the Zambezi, near the town of Livingstone.

Malindi Lubinda, headmaster of the local school, sent an e-mail to club secretary, Carol McMenamin, who had visited the village on a trip to Zambia last year.

“We are absolutely delighted to receive these sports shoes from Ireland and they have already been distributed to the village’s football team as well as others,” said Mr. Lubinda.