Robin Trust founder, Leslie Mcleod-Downes and general manager, Corlea Viljoen during a site visit at the Pinelands based non-profit's headquarters.
Image: Wesley Ford
Robin Trust founder Leslie Mcleod-Downes is using her new-found love for running to raise money for the organisation she started nearly 32 years ago.
Last Friday, March 14, Ms Mcleod-Downes, who has been working as a nurse in the United Kingdom (UK) since 2004, visited the Robin Trust, based in the Oude Molen Eco Village in Pinelands, along with a few members of the Health and Hustle fitness group from the UK.
Ms Mcleod-Downes founded the Robin Trust in 1993, when her daughter, Robyn was diagnosed with leukodystrophy – a rare disease that affects the brain, peripheral nerves and the spinal cord. Her daughter required special healthcare. Her daughter passed away at the age of 17. Ms Mcleod-Downes left the Red Cross to start training caregivers (“Robin Trust celebrates 25th anniversary,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, March 14, 2019).
“It's really emotional returning to Robin Trust. When I see the organisation is still continuing in training home-based carers it is humbling. When I look at the new carers, I see they look so smart and they are able to help their families in the way the carers helped me with my family many years ago.”
Ms Mcleod-Downes, 67, continues to raise funds for the organisation and her latest initiative, the Robin Trust charity challenge, started in August. They are appealing for any entrants whether local or international to run 1000 miles or 1600km throughout the year. The entry fee of R350 will go towards Robin Trust and the goal is to fund a bursary to train carers.
Ms Mcleod-Downes only took up running five years ago when she joined the Health and Hustle fitness group in the UK. “After the pandemic, I felt burnt out and I needed to do something to get active,” she says.
Ms Mcleod-Downes and a few members from the Health and Hustle group took part in the Constantia 5km parkrun on Saturday March 15 which was also part of fundraising for Robin Trust.
General manager at Robin Trust, Corlea Viljoen says it is wonderful to show Ms Mcleod-Downes and the whole UK team how their organisation is progressing. “With the help of their funds, we can sponsor a student and her fundraising initiatives continue to help our students and our patients.”
Visit Robin Trust at https://robintrust.org.za/ and go to “support us” to find out more. You can also follow them on their Facebook page.
Leslie Mcleod-Downes, second from right, along with her fellow United Kingdom members of the Health and Hustle fitness group , from left are Maxine Bailey, Judy Perrins, Kevin Gannaway and Sarah Price.
Image: Wesley Ford