‘Disability does not mean inability’: Zimele team takes on Cape Town marathon

A team of people with disabilities will line up at the Cape Town Marathon this Saturday (23 May), raising funds and challenging what society believes disability means.

Six beneficiaries of Zimele, a Cape Town-based non-profit organisation founded in 2020 to restore independence, dignity and opportunity to South Africans living with physical disabilities will compete in the race weekend. In addition, co-founder Dr Sarah Whitehead will push the full 42,2 km marathon course in a wheelchair. The team hopes to raise R100 000. So far, R70 000 has already been reached.

“We’re nervously excited,” Whitehead said ahead of the weekend.

‘Zimele’ – independence in every sense

The name says it all. Zimele is Xhosa for independence and that single word defines everything the organisation does.

Founded in 2020 by Whitehead, orthotist and prosthetist Jayson Chin, and Rodney Lakey, Zimele was born out of a shared frustration. Too many amputees and people with physical disabilities were leaving inpatient rehabilitation with nowhere to go.

The organisation was built to fill that gap. It acts as a bridge between hospital discharge and a full life in the community.

Whitehead, a medical doctor who qualified from the University of Cape Town in 2010 and who is herself a person with a physical disability, brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to that mission. She holds a PhD in medical education with a focus on disability. Moreover, she has spent her career in physical rehabilitation and disability rights advocacy.

Zimele’s interdisciplinary team comprising doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, prosthetists and psychologists works to give beneficiaries the rehabilitation, tools and confidence to live as independently as possible.

Furthermore, the organisation also advocates for disability inclusion. It supports beneficiaries in navigating legislation and policy. The team also works toward economic self-sufficiency for those it serves.

Race ready

In the two weeks leading up to the race, Zimele’s six participating beneficiaries had dedicated sessions with the organisation’s prosthetist and physiotherapist to ensure they were race-ready.

Support continued off the track. “We made sure we’re available through WhatsApp groups to address any questions and encourage them if needed,” Whitehead said.

For those who have rebuilt their lives through Zimele, simply reaching a starting block carries weight that goes beyond sport.

“It means more than I can say. I have been extremely involved in building Zimele up from nothing and to have this very real visual that the vision and mission of Zimele is bearing fruit is incredibly rewarding,” Whitehead said.

Pushing limits

Whitehead, who uses a wheelchair, will complete the full 42,2 km marathon distance a challenge chosen deliberately.

“I quite enjoy a challenge. I like doing things that push me physically and mentally. Because I am a person with disability, I enjoy shattering and challenging societal preconceived beliefs about what a person with a disability can or cannot do.”

Closing the gap

With 30% of the fundraising target still to reach, Zimele is collecting donations via GivenGain:

“We would be extremely grateful for donations of any amount. No amount is too small. After the races, you can still donate and continue to share our story,” Whitehead said.

Spectators are encouraged to look out for the team in their bright yellow Zimele T-shirts on race day and give them an extra cheer.

“Disability does not automatically mean inability. When you give people with disabilities the right support through rehabilitation and by creating an inclusive environment, there’s a wealth of ability that can be brought to the surface.”

• Follow Zimele: zimelenpc.org.za