Kabelo Mabalane on his eighth comrades

All-round entertainer Kabelo Mabalane will be running in his eighth comrade marathon this year.

Now also a fitness/health expert and motivation speaker says he will be dedicating this run to creating awareness and raising funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.

Mabalane, who finished the 2013 Comrades in a time of eight hours and 13 minutes, said he would aim to trim that time by 43 minutes for the 2014 race.

His love for sport emerged when he started to train for the comrades in 2005. That year he partnered with Harmony Gold to raise R250 000 for charity and continues to support and participate in charity projects close to his heart. 

“The Comrades is all about testing one's mental and physical endurance and I am so excited that I will be dedicating my run this year to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital,” said Mabalane.

“Children are close to my heart and I am very excited to be contributing to Madiba’s legacy to build the children’s hospital and helping them to raise funds.”

In 2008, Kabelo became the first black man to appear on the cover of Runner's World, and at the time earnestly spoke to the publication about overcoming his cocaine addiction and finishing his second Comrades.

He in this interview credited discipline discovered through running for helping him turn his life around.

Kabelo currently hosts a series called 'Play Your Part' on SABC2. The series showcases ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things, and airs at 9pmevery Sunday.