A Small Gesture with a Big Impact: Marathon Shirts for Tanzanian Children

23 April 2025

As proud main sponsor of the Logus-De Hoop Marathon Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Logus-De Hoop and its parent company De Hoop Terneuzen are actively committed to both sport and social engagement. Our investments are purposefully directed towards initiatives that help strengthen the local community. In doing so, we make a positive contribution to promoting the region and maintaining its liveability.

The 2025 edition – held over the weekend of 12 and 13 April – was once again a sporting highlight. But the impact of this event reaches far beyond our own region.

This became clear in a particularly special way recently. The recognisable Logus-De Hoop marathon shirts made their way to the savannahs of Tanzania. Former sports alderman of Terneuzen, Jack Begijn, made a moving and memorable stop during a safari through the African country at a small orphanage near the impressive Tarangire National Park. Begijn had packed a bundle of original marathon shirts in his luggage, intended for the children at the orphanage.

The older children were at school, but that didn’t stop the little ones – some as young as two years old – from proudly posing in the (far too large) marathon shirts.
For them, it wasn’t just a piece of clothing, but a moment of joy, attention, and pride.
Begijn had also thought of the very youngest. Alongside the shirts, he brought colouring books, crayons and felt-tip pens. The result was not only cheerful faces but also colourful works of art full of imagination and creativity.

Through this initiative, the marathon brings a smile to the face of a child – wherever in the world they may be. Because whether you're running for victory or playing with pencils and paper – connection begins with attention.