Going into Sunday morning, Zimele co-founder Dr Sarah Whitehead had one word for her team. “Nervously excited,” she said. But by the time the bright yellow T-shirts of the Zimele Cape Town Marathon team crossed the finish line on Sunday 24 May, there was nothing nervous about it.

Six beneficiaries of the Cape Town-based non-profit company (NPC) completed the race weekend. Each carried a story of loss, rehabilitation and hard-won rebuilding. Alongside them, Whitehead and push pilot Lee Moffat rolled the full 42,2 km in a wheelchair.

“I am pretty tired and a bit stiff and sore,” Whitehead said after finishing. “But I’m also very happy and proud of myself and my push pilot Lee Moffat.”

The name that says everything

Zimele is Xhosa for independence. That single word defined everything that played out on the streets of Cape Town on Sunday.

Whitehead, orthotist and prosthetist Jayson Chin, and Rodney Lakey founded Zimele in 2020. It was born from shared frustration. Too many amputees and people with physical disabilities left inpatient rehabilitation with nowhere to go after discharge. Beyond clinical support, the organisation advocates for disability inclusion. It helps beneficiaries navigate legislation and policy. It also works actively toward economic self-sufficiency.

Whitehead qualified as a medical doctor from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2010. She holds a PhD in medical education, with a focus on disability. As someone with a physical disability herself, she has spent her career at the intersection of rehabilitation and disability rights advocacy.

Why she tackled the full distance

Her decision to run the full 42,2 km was deliberate. “I quite enjoy a challenge,” she said. “I like doing things that push me physically and mentally.”

She added: “Because I am a person with a disability, I enjoy shattering societal preconceived beliefs about what a person with a disability can or cannot do.” On Sunday, she did exactly that — though not without moments that tested her resolve.

The toughest stretches on the Zimele Cape Town Marathon route

Two sections proved particularly brutal. The first was the climb through the Company Gardens. “The climb was seemingly never ending,” Whitehead said. “But the crowd support helped. Knowing my family and friends were at the top kept me going.”

The second tough stretch came in the final five kilometres. Runners call it the loop of death. “You roll away from the stadium toward Sea Point,” she explained. “On the other side of the road, runners are heading to the finish. I kept thinking: when are we going to loop back?” The cheering crowd and Lee’s encouragement carried her through.

The finish line brought a surprise. “I got a bit emotional turning the corner,” she said.

Months of preparation behind the scenes

Getting to the start line took months. In the two weeks before race day, all six beneficiaries had dedicated sessions with Zimele’s prosthetist and physiotherapist. Every athlete was physically prepared before stepping onto the course.

Support continued beyond the clinic. “We made sure we’re available through WhatsApp groups to address questions and encourage them,” Whitehead said.

For people who had rebuilt their lives through Zimele, reaching the starting block meant everything. “It means more than I can say,” she said. “I have been extremely involved in building Zimele from nothing. To have this real, visual proof that our vision is bearing fruit is incredibly rewarding.”

A crowd that showed up

The team was easy to spot. Bright yellow T-shirts moved through the field with quiet, unmistakable purpose. The response from spectators caught even Whitehead and Moffat off guard.

“On both days the crowd responded phenomenally,” Whitehead said. “Lee and I were blown away. Even many of the runners along the way cheered us on.”

Fundraising: Closing in on R100 000

The Zimele Cape Town Marathon race weekend also doubled as a fundraising drive. The team targeted R100 000 to support ongoing rehabilitation and advocacy work.

By race day, R70 000 had been raised. That figure has since grown. “We have raised R78 342,” Whitehead said. “We are so grateful. But we would love to reach the target.”

Just under R22 000 remains. Donations are still open via GivenGain. “No amount is too small. After the races, you can still donate and share our story,” she said.

What comes next for Zimele

Sporting events offer powerful advocacy platforms. “They are traditionally seen as events only for able-bodied athletes,” Whitehead said. “That makes them a fantastic space to show what is possible for people with disabilities who have the right support.”

The organisation’s next event is its annual end-of-year Zumba fundraiser, open to everyone regardless of ability. “No matter your ability, we do a Zumba class together,” she said. “It’s great fun, lovely and inclusive, with all our beneficiaries there.”

The yellow T-shirts have crossed the finish line. But the race Zimele is running for independence, dignity and a world that sees ability before disability has no finish line.

“Disability does not automatically mean inability,” Whitehead said. “When you give people with disabilities the right support, there’s a wealth of ability that can be brought to the surface.”