Nedbank athlete, Antonette Greenaway, will run a total of 650km in 15 days to support the Hospice Breede Valley. She will run from Port Elizabeth to Robertson.
THE PLAN
To start in PE on the 1st of March and run approximately 45km for 15 days, finishing at Robertson. Most likely I will split the day into 2 sessions, morning and evening, to avoid the heat of this time of year. I will run from PE via Humansdorp, Kareedouw, Joubertina, past Uniondale to Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Ladismith, Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton and then Robertson.
My dad (Johann Steyn) will be my second, which means me and him will have valuable time together. A wonderful blessing and not something that is always possible, to be able to spend time with a parent for an extented period of time.
THE GOAL
The Breede Valley Hospice management are 150% behind the journey and they have already arranged an SMS hotline, the number will be displayed on the support vehicle, hehe my little Corsa 1.4 SPORT, so that people who spot me, can SMS and donate R30 for each SMS. They also managed to get the support of the Harley Davidson local Chapter, who will accompany me into Robertson with great noise and fanfare, where I will finish at the Pre School, on the Saturday the 15th of March. There was also an article in "Die Burger" on Wednesday 19 February 2014 telling the story and asking people to get involved and to raise awareness and funds for the great work that Hospice do. Nick Bester arranged a sponsorship on behalf of the NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB in the form of supplements and Nike running shoes for my journey. George Schwults also provided me with LOOBIT and COOLIT for the run. Very needed, as you well know, lubricant is a runner's best friend.
The purpose of the event is to show my gratitude for the support, medically but also emotionally, that the Hospice team provided to our family during my mother's last stage illness. They were with us from about end November 2012 and all 4 of the team were there the day Mum passed away at home. I have the health and ability to run. And this is my way of saying thank you for what they did for us, but also for what they do in our community. You never realise the toll illness leading to death takes on you and the stress it places on the family and friends that care for the patient, but with the support from them, Mum could pass with dignity and at home, where she was happy and safe. When I had the first meeting with the Hospice management team early in February this year, I gave this event to them to use as they see fit to raise awareness and funds for their work. As with all events of this nature, the one main goal is to raise funds, but secondly to raise awareness and to ensure that through the exposure that Hospice will get, they will also hopefully receive offers from new benefactors to lend sustainability to their future growth.
THE BACKGROUND
My mum, Erna Steyn, was first diagnosed with colon cancer around 1987 and she was a survivor for many years. I was in England for 10 years up until 2007, when I returned to Cape Town to stay with my parents until I got myself set up. About a month or so after my arrival the 3 of us (Mum, Dad and me) moved to Robertson. It was around 2008/2009 Mum said she wanted to do something to raise funds for cancer care, and her plan was to walk from the KKNK (Oudtshoorn) back to Robertson. Unfortunately her health was never so that she could take on this endevour. But that is where the seed was planted with me and I pledged to her that I will do it for her. Me and her talked about it often and when I started running in 2010 the plan grew to include the whole of the Route 62, starting in PE. Mum & Dad travelled with me in 2011 to Durban where I completed my first Comrades. At that stage Mum had just been diagnosed with a 11cm in diameter tumor to the outside of her stomach and she was very ill, but made the journey with me. A very proud day for her when I made it over the finish line. Unfortunately she could not make it to the second Comrades I completed in 2013. She passed away 7 May 2013. She did make sure that I promise her that I will do the run, regardless of whether she was still with us then. 2013 Comrades was a gruelling day, not just due to the extreme weather, but also, I knew this time she would not wait for me at the finish.
It was on 6 May 2013, the day before she passed, that the Hospice Doctor, Sonia Naude, was visiting Mum that I told Sonia of the plan. Then it was set. I had spoken the words to someone, and it meant the task had to be done. No going back now. I don't think anyone took me seriously until the meeting with Hospice in February of this year. :)
With my feet I am saying thank you to the people that care for us in our darkest times. They are the heroes, I'm just running.
Please use what ever you think is appropriate.
I also attach the press release from the HOSPICE Breede Valley along with the sponsor form.
Anyone is welcome to send me a friend request to my FaceBook page (Antonette Greenaway) where I will post daily on my progress etc.
Hospice Breede Valley will also post on their FaceBook page and everyone is encouraged to "like" their page.
Media release
Sponsor form
