Durban — A father-in-law who took 26 years to get the number 12884 in the Comrades Marathon handed over his green number in an emotional tribute to his son-in-law who ran in his place.
The father-in-law could no longer run the ultimate human race as he was now wheelchair-bound following an accident.
In a video captured at Brian McCrindle’s house, with his son-in-law John Cunha, from Kuwait, by his side said that it took him 26 years to get the number 12884 because the first one was in 1973 and 26 years later he did the second one, and then all of the rest consecutively.
“So here it is. And now I can't run any more and I'm thinking big deal… I've got this number. So I can’t think of no better legacy for this number than to hand it over to somebody who’s deserving and worthwhile… And John, you’re an amazing person,” McCrindle said.
“Every time I get in the car, every time I go over that ramp to get into the house, I think of you with lots of love and affection and respect and the legacy that I'll be able to hand over to you John is a great honour.”
McCrindle said he would not advise Cunha to use the number wisely but told him to “enjoy the hell out of it”.
“It’s not about times, it’s not about how many you do or whatever. It’s simply about enjoying it. And if you can get fit in the process and learn about life as you do with running, or vice versa. That legacy could go a long way. Maybe one day you can hand it over to Luke as well.”
Cunha thanked McCrindle.
Meanwhile, Michele de Souza, the chairperson of the PMB B&B network and owner of the Greenlands guest house, said she had runners from Kuwait, Nigeria, Kenya and Swaziland staying at her establishment.
She said the camaraderie of the ultimate human race had found its way into her establishment as she witnessed Cunha, a first-time runner, undertake the race on behalf of McCrindle.
“John Cunha from Kuwait ran with his father-in-law’s green number. His father-in-law was severely injured in an accident and is no longer able to run and the Comrades authorities officially allowed John to run using his number. It was John’s first Comrades,” said De Souza.
Daily News