More than just shoes: How the right pair can change a life

"If you think about someone who's starting running or sport and they don't have the proper shoes, the risk for injury is really, really high," says Mari Leach, a Discovery Vitality biokineticist who has spent years helping people move more and move better. Her work with both recreational and high-performance athletes has given her a front-row seat to how important something as simple as the right pair of shoes can be.

The #VitalityGive2Move initiative was created with a simple insight: many people have gently worn running shoes gathering dust at home, while others are trying to start an active lifestyle without the basics to do so safely. "If you don't have good footwear, your whole alignment can be affected. You see compensations in knees, hips, even lower back pain," Leach says.

But the benefit of good footwear isn't only about injury prevention, it's also about motivation and comfort. "If you're starting out and you're wearing the wrong shoes, it's going to feel uncomfortable. People often stop exercising because they think it's too painful or hard, when actually, the wrong shoes are making it worse," she adds.

Leach says that a lot of people replace shoes when they hit 800km or 1000km, but that doesn't mean they're not wearable anymore. "For someone just starting out, those shoes are still incredibly valuable."

By donating to the initiative, you're not just handing over an old pair of shoes, you're potentially helping someone prevent injury, stay motivated, and feel the joy of moving comfortably for the first time.

Join the movement and donate your pre-loved running or sports shoes at the following locations:

1. All Discovery Stores nationwide. (Find your nearest Discovery Store)
2. All events in the 2025 Vitality Run Series
3. All Team Vitality tier 1 and 2 hospitality events on our Vitality Race Calendar
4. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Sechaba House, 202 Madiba Street, Pretoria and 120 Plein Street, Cape Town City Centre.
5. Discovery Group offices across the country.
6. Discovery Soccer Parks at Mall of Africa rooftop, Wanderers and Sandton.
7. Selected Sportsmans Warehouse stores and Virgin Active clubs nationwide (Find your closest drop off point).

Find out more about the Vitality Give2Move initiative here: https://www.discovery.co.za/vitality/discoveryvitality-shoe-donations