Charity | Posted on February 7th, 2025 | return to news
Dorset lad starts charity to help African athletes
A 10-year-old from Holt near Wimborne is collecting trainers and t-shirts for young runners in South Africa.
Charlie Forbes, a 10-year-old runner from Holt near Wimborne, has set up his own charity to help young athletes in Africa by providing them with trainers and sports clothes.
Forbes is a keen runner and has completed over 120 ParkRuns – the free weekly 5K sporting events that are held around the world. He decided to start the charity, called ‘Run 2 Renew’, after taking part in a ParkRun event in South Africa.
Forbes said: “I was shocked at how many of the children my age were running in bare feet, and after speaking to the organiser, I wanted to help.”
The lad met with Lizzy, who organises the Cannibals ParkRun event in an area near the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa.
“The week I ran, she had run out of fuel for the water pump generator and the children running had nothing to drink at the end of the 5K run. Living in the UK, I can turn on the tap and drink water anytime, this made realise we all need to help,” Forbes recalls.
Run 2 Renew is collecting second-hand trainers and sport shoes, as well as t-shirts and running shorts, from people in Dorset and will take them to South African in July, where they will be distributed to dedicated but disadvantaged youngsters in the area by Lizzy to help them participate in sport.
The charity is looking for running trainers (not fashion shoes or plimsoles) and lightweight running tops and shorts for men, women and children aged eight years and upwards. Forbes and his family are happy to collect from people’s doorsteps in the Wimborne and Colehill area. Or if you contact the charity with your name and address, they will send a pre-paid bag to post your second-hand running shoes and t-shirts.
To find out more about the charity or to make a donation, visit the website (password: Charlie) or send an email to jsforbes@mac.com.
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