A Monumental Journey For Mental Health Awareness

What began as a 56km run in 2021, fuelled by personal pain, has metamorphosed into a beacon of hope and resilience for mental health advocacy across South Africa's townships, reports Cape town Etc .

On March 20, 2025, Sandiso Hlalaphi, the visionary founder of 4Impilo Mental Fitness Centre, will embark on an ambitious 200km Township-to-Township Duathlon aimed at dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health and addressing gender-based violence GBV in the community.

Hlalaphi's path has not been easy. The inspiration for this powerful movement stems from his struggles with suicidal thoughts and profound despair. In those dark days, running became an outlet, a lifeline that led him to confront his pain.

However, the initial attempt nearly cost him his life, culminating in a hospital admission that forced him to reflect on his experiences. Out of this turmoil emerged a profound mission: to create safe spaces for others similarly suffering in silence.

Sandiso Hlalaphi