Having a friend or family member strapped to a wheelchair might just be the perfect reason to join the runners set to take part in Saturday’s 10km run hosted by Mitchell’s Plain Titans Athletic Club, says Rocklands runner Chantal Fisher, 47.
If not, there’s always the next race, says Fisher, who has been taking part in road races for nearly a decade and has become a familiar sight along various routes where she’s often seen pushing a wheelchair as part of the Chaeli Campaign.
An NPO established in 2004 by friends and family of Chaeli and Erin Mycroft, the organisation has been at the forefront of campaigning for the rights of children with disabilities.
It was love at first sight for Fisher when she joined the organisation in 2017, after missing the deadline to enter her first ultra marathon.
“As a lover of running I approached various NPOs looking for charity entries, the Chaeli Campaign was the first one we visited. I ended up supporting the cause immediately,” she said.
While most runners generally hit the road to have fun or improve their personal bests, Fisher is looking forward to Saturday’s 10km run to help raise awareness about people living with disabilities.
“I would really like to raise awareness around the misconceptions and stereotypes, the disabled are functional in their own way and should really be given a chance at living their dreams,” she said.
“I believe in treating everyone equal, no matter what the situation or circumstances are.”
Spectators gathered along the route, can look out for Fisher, who will be running with a buggy designed by Warriors on Wheels (WOW), an organisation, who, like the Chaeli Campaign and others, are also activists for the disabled.
“WOW is very well supported in the running community and with their blue colours attended the Titans race most years,” she said.
“I would like families of the disabled to reach out to me, they are more than what they seem to be. Don’t feel that that the world will disapprove of them,” she said.
Looking ahead at Saturday’s race, which will be her fourth, Fisher said she can hardly wait to hit the road. “I believe that through this beautiful race, so many ideas and involvement can be ‘birthed’ as part of the Titans annual race day,“ she said.
“My goal this year is to make a change in a young woman’s life. She was born with cerebral palsy and recently lost her mom who was her only remaining parent,” she said.
“So I will not go out to finish my personal best at the race, there will be plenty of other races, the day is not about me, it’s about the special young lady in that buggy,” she said.
“I would also like to thank Titans for welcoming me during their time trials on Thursdays, the love and unity I experience from the club members is a clear observation that they’re a club for all,” she said.
• Meanwhile Titans AC race committee members rounded op their final preparation for Saturday’s big race, set to start and finish at Rocklands sports field. The 10km race starts at 6.30am and the 5km run at 7.30am.
Race director Mark Wessels, in his first year at the helm, said they’re hoping to see at least 1 200 runners at the starting line on race day.
Those familiar with the race, might miss the usual 21km run in the 12th edition of the race, but Wessels is hopeful that it will be back next year.
“Due to a lack of sponsors we had to drop the 21.1km but we are confident to stage a 6km, 10km and 21.1km in 2025,” he said.
“For the first time in club history the race also has league race status. Clubs score points based on the amount of members entered and finishers. Currently Kuils River AC is leading the standing. For the past few years Farnese AC has won the league,” Wessels said.
Saturday’s route, he said, will take runners from Glendale High School, down Spine Road into Merrydale Avenue. Then back into Eisleben Road and across the footbridge over Baden Powell Drive down to Mnandi Beach.
“We run along the parking area, the beach and then turn toward Lukannon Drive or the ‘S Bend’ past the fishing spot and make a turn at the 6.5km on Lukannon Drive where we head back to finish at Rocklands sports field,“ Wessels said.
The entry fees for the 10km race is R100 for licensed runners and R150 for unlicensed runners. Junior runners pay R85 (unlicensed) and R55 (licensed).
Late registration takes place at Rocklands sports field, on Friday, November 22, from 5pm to 6.30pm and Saturday November 23, from 4am to 6.15 for the 10km race, and till 7.15am for the 5km race.
For more information about running with disabled athletes, email fisherchantal252@gmail.com. For more information about the Titans or Saturday’s race, call 081 447 7192.
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