Runner Pastor Adri Theron, 61, from Bellville has run four fund-raising marathons to raise money for CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation.
He ran the marathons to raise R1 million for CHOC and honour his late son, Sven, who died of leukaemia, at the age of 3, 34 years ago.
Pastor Theron has done the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons among others since 1998. CHOC has support homes for cancer patients and their families in Sybrand Park, Plumstead and Tygerberg.
“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the focus is on the medical treatment, but many other things suddenly change for a family, practical and emotional. CHOC takes care of the non-medical support to the child and the family,” he said.
His plan was to run four consecutive marathons, two in South Africa and two in Namibia, for a combined distance of 168.8km
For the first marathon, last Friday, he started at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and ran 42km through the southern suburbs, finishing at the CHOC Sybrand Park home.
On Saturday, he ran 42km from Saldanha to Vredenburg. The run planned for Sunday was postponed after he experienced stomach pains, but on Monday, he did two runs: in the morning, he ran 42km along Namibia’s C34, from Swakopmund to Wlotzkasbaken and back, then in the afternoon, he ran 42km from Swakopmund and back.
Lynette Muthuray, the regional manager of the provincial CHOC office, said: “He is definitely using his loss to contribute and assist the vulnerable children and teenagers that are diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders.”
Visit Pastor Theron’s givengain page or call 082 924 3657 to donate.
