After Losing Everything, Wages Gets His Running Shoes

A devastating fire stripped a passionate marathon runner of everything he owned. A remarkable chain of seemingly random events fell perfectly into place to bring joy back into his hands.... The post After Losing Everything, Wages Gets His Running Shoes appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Jun 3, 2026 - 10:03

After Losing Everything, Wages Gets His Running Shoes

A devastating fire stripped a passionate marathon runner of everything he owned. A remarkable chain of seemingly random events fell perfectly into place to bring joy back into his hands.

Cape Town, South Africa (03 June 2026) – This story, recently shared by a top CEO, Adrian Goslett, had us in the feels.

It’s about giving. It’s about the funny knack that life has to put us exactly where we need to be, to make a difference or be a hero. It’s about putting others before ourselves when the outcome means joy for someone who needs it more than we do. It’s about kindness and compassion.

It all starts with Wages, an acquaintance of Adrian’s, whom he first met 10 years ago.

“On Sundays he helps out at our church – setting up equipment and chairs, parking and guarding cars and then breaking it all down again after the 2nd service.” says Goslett.

Wages is a helper, as well as a marathon runner.

“…And a very good one at that. I’d call it more of a passion and something that brings him joy. And for someone with very little, finding joy is somewhat of a luxury.”

Last week on Thursday, Wages was gearing up for the first proceedings of the Cape Town Marathon. He had just left his home to head to the stadium to join the marathon photoshoot when he heard screams. He ran back, but it was too late.

“A fire from Wages’ neighbour had spread through the roof and by the time he ran back after hearing the screams, his place had been hit and it was all gone.” says Goslett.

Wages lost everything in that fire.

“Clothes, appliances, shoes, food, everything…”

Goslett says that the community quickly rallied to gather essentials for him and his family. A list of their needs landed up in the Goslett’s family WhatsApp group, the day after the fire.

Two days later, Adrian’s wife, Vicky, ran the marathon’s half-trail herself, and the family then supported friends running the full marathon that Sunday. To follow, they attended an exclusive dinner where Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan long-distance runner, gave an inspiring talk.

“I don’t run.” says Goslett. “Last time I ran was when I was late for the [school bus], so to say I felt like a bit of an imposter there is justified. And if Vix hadn’t run and started taking an interest in running, I’m not sure I would have even gone to the event to be perfectly honest.” he adds.

Goslett found himself in a room full of runners. And then Eliud spoke.

“The talk was great, and Eliud spoke about spreading the message of the passion for running, the lessons that come from it and how it has the ability to change lives. It was inspirational. You get the picture.”

By the end of the brand dinner, guests were treated to a surprise. Everyone would walk away with a pair of fancy running shoes.

“There was a wall of boxes that you could walk up to and a Nike rep would hand you your size shoe in a presentation box.”

Later, when trying the shoes on, a feeling came over Goslett.

“It was only sitting on the couch in the restaurant when I tried those shoes on, that I was ‘prompted’. Hard to explain it. Just a feeling and distant voice. The voice was like ‘Dude, do you really need these shoes? Your cupboard is full of brand new shoes. You don’t even run.’”

Wages was in the back of his mind, still.

“My mind immediately went to Wages.” saus Goslett. “With permission and having briefly shared the circumstances, I asked…if I could swap a size 12 for 9s to which they graciously agreed.”

A week later, Goslett made the handoff, and Wages got his new running shoes.

A series of events unfolded for this to have happened.

It began five months prior, when Vicky was first inspired to register for the Saturday race.

That decision set the stage for Adrian to accept an invitation to an exclusive brand dinner – an invitation the organisers had specifically chosen to send him.

Meanwhile, tragedy struck on Thursday when a fire destroyed Wages’ home, prompting a community member to create a WhatsApp ‘needs list’ that Goslett’s daughter subsequently shared with their family group on Friday.

Because Vicky was participating in the weekend’s events, Goslett attended the exclusive dinner where Eliud Kipchoge was a guest speaker.

At the event, Kipchoge spoke about how running changes lives, reflecting his sponsor’s vision of inspiring people beyond competition.

This perfect alignment and inspiration culminated in a surprise premium shoe giveaway, putting the exact gift into Goslett’s hands just when the memory of the WhatsApp list prompted him to swap his pair for Wages’ size.