14 May 2018

 It is often rare to find a female leading the pack in a male dominated field of sports, health and wellness. This, however, has not been the case for  Joy Setshedi.

Always motivated by the quest to make a difference in the sport industry and the community, Botswana Football Academy owner, Setshedi of Joy Foundation Academy early this year introduced Kgatleng Fitness Challenge as a way of keeping fit.

She said after selling the idea to few other people who showed interest, together, they agreed to challenge themselves by climbing Bollatshwene Hill in

Mochudi on March 31 all in pursuit of good health. The fitness challenge is held every weekend from 630 am till 830am starting from Sankara butchery up to Bollatshwene Hill and is always followed by exercises.

Setshedi said she was motivated to start the Kgatleng Fitness Challenge by many aspects among them a number of patients at Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital who suffered from diseases that could be prevented by exercise and wellness.

The forever motivated woman noted that many people were faced with social related challenges like drug and alcohol abuse which led to diseases such as heart attack, Diabetes and high blood pressure.

She said there was lack of continuous active health and sports activities in the region.

Furthermore Setshedi encouraged all regardless of age group to join them in the challenge as it was free and also beneficial .

She said they wanted to see each and everyone within the district fit in their mind, body and soul in the year 2020.

She observed lack of girl child activeness in sport and encouraged them to partake in the challenge to maintain their bodies and healthy living.
 

Setshedi highlighted that the fitness challenge would be launched in the near future in other areas like Dinokeng villages, Artesia, Oodi and Modipane.

She further commended community leaders like dikgosi and councillors for showing interest in the idea and appreciating its purpose.

She further said they intended to have fitness challenge competition at the end of the year in Mochudi to reward those who participated and motivated others to join in.

For his part, Volunteer fitness instructor Timothy Sefakwe shared the sentiments as Setshedi about the aim of the fitness challenge. He urged members of the community to join especially men who had the perception that they were always fit from the odd jobs they carried out.

One of the participants, Margret Setshedi who has been actively involved since its inception attested that she had lost a lot of weight which showed that the challenge was of importance.

She said losing weight had since motivated her to keep on with the challenge as she would love to live a healthy life. ENDS