Empower the People launches Run It Back ’25 to uplift Thembalethu preschool teacher

GEORGE NEWS - Empower the People has officially launched Run It Back ’25, calling on the Garden Route community to come together once again to empower a 'champion'.

Rooted in the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child,” Empower adds its own philosophy: “It takes a community to empower a champion.”

Now entering its fourth year, the Run It Back initiative continues its mission of supporting one community hero at a time, helping them expand their impact on the lives around them.

This year’s beneficiary is Princess Nkqayi, a preschool teacher in Silvertown, Thembalethu. Nkqayi currently teaches 45 young children, and Empower hopes to raise
R70 000 to help her secure additional land to expand her preschool and improve the learning environment.

From a dream to a movement

Run It Back began in 2021 with the initial goal of raising R50 000 to buy a home for a foster mother. The project has since grown into a movement that turns people’s passions into meaningful action — running for a cause, walking for a neighbour, and uplifting local heroes who quietly change lives every day.

How Run It Back ’25 works

Participants are challenged to complete a 42.2km marathon over seven days, from 23–29 November.

The challenge can be completed in various ways:

Option 1: Run or walk 5.1 km daily for six days, and finish with two laps of the 5.8 km route at Redberry Farm in George.

Option 2: Complete the above challenge and share daily updates on social media, tagging @EmpowerTP and @RunItBack_Empower.

Option 3: Run, share, and commit to raising R5 000 through a GivenGain campaign.

Option 4: Contribute R5 000 or more directly to the cause.

The final day of running will be hosted in collaboration with Redberry Farm, where participants are encouraged to bring friends, family, and running buddies to join in the fun.

A call to action

Empower the People, a registered NPC and PBO, invites individuals, families, businesses, churches, and community groups to participate.

“By empowering our local heroes, we build stronger communities and a brighter future,” the organisation's David May said.

Participants can also compete for the King or Queen of Run It Back 2025 titles, with more details available on Empower’s social media pages.Princess Nkqayi speaking during the launch of the 2025 Run it Back campaign.