Running for a reason! SPCA legend Sarah Van Heerden and her daughter Alex are dedicating the Ultimate Human Race to pavement specials.
Kloof, South Africa (29 May 2025) — The Kloof and Highway SPCA’s Sarah Van Heerden is a champion of underdogs. While you might think all shelter pets are underdogs, there are still levels to underdogship. Some dogs get adopted quickly, while others wait for months if not years, simply because they’re pavement specials or senior animals.
But Sarah and her daughter, Alex want to change the narrative around these invisible animals while giving them a boost, and they’re using the Ultimate Human Race as a means to spread their message on behalf of the entire SPCA team.
Sarah is no stranger to pushing her body to extremes for the betterment of animals. Last year, she cycled an incredible 1,600kms over a weekn in the Western Cape to raise funds for forgotten animals and managed to fundraise over R120 000 for the SPCA and its services.
How will she fare at the Comrades? Well, this is her 14th time doing it!
Sarah and Alex will run specifically for the pavement specials in an effort to support sterilisations. Sarah hopes to make 60 sterilisations possible, which will cost around R30,000.
“Every Comrades runner matters, just as every animal in our community matters,” Sarah says.
“I am a below average, untalented jogger, I am just another runner, but if my finish counts for anything, let it be a finish making a different to JUST another brown dog.”
You can support Sarah and Alex via their fundraiser, here.
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