Marc Cohen

Community Chest Durban & Pietermaritzburg

Personal Message:

I run the Comrades Marathon because of my dad, John Cohen, who passed away in 2020. For those unfamiliar with Comrades, there's a wonderful tradition that allows you to run in a family member's number. My dad ran Comrades 22 times, earning 13 silver medals and achieving his best time of 6:50. After completing 10 races, runners receive a permanent number—my dad's was 191. It was a challenging process to get permission to run in his number. When I finally did, I asked if I could keep the number permanently. The response was, "The number will stay with you as long as you enter every year. And once you have completed 10, it will be permanent." Ten races seemed daunting, but I decided to honor my dad's legacy by making good use of these years. Now, I'm chasing his best time, though age may be catching up with me. Dad loved Comrades. Together with my mum, he dedicated a lot of time to charity, supporting disadvantaged children and fellow runners. Community Chest first caught my attention when they left a touching comment on an obituary which Comrades wrote on his passing. This year, my sister Tanya and I are supporting the Community Chest, a charity that aligns with my dad's values. The Community Chest has been making a profound impact for over 90 years, helping individuals and organizations through initiatives that foster perseverance, resilience, and positive change.