MY GOAL
Athletes with a Cause
Many athletes in South Africa hit the roads and trails to raise money for or awareness of important , deserving causes , and here we give them the publicity they deserve for their efforts .
Running from Depression
did that for me to show me how a man should treat me . There is a lot of stigma in the black community around suicide , so I always felt it was an injustice that he was thought of in that way , as he was a good father to myself and my younger siblings , and he was a good person that was always helping people . This campaign is my way to demystify suicide and mental illness , and to redefine my father ,” says Zanele .
After her father committed suicide in 2008 due to severe depression , Zanele Hlatshwayo turned to running to help her through the heartache and her own depression . Now this ultra-marathon runner is running 18 races in seven months to raise awareness of and funds for the treatment of this condition . – BY SEAN FALCONER
“ I want to help SADAG through raising funds so that they can maintain the costs of running the organisation , because depression and suicidal thoughts are personal struggles I had to face when my father took his life . And since running is a sacred experience for me , a mechanism that helped me deal with his death , what better way to help those who might be going through similar experiences than through the power of running ?”
RUNNING CHALLENGE
Having found solace in her running and gymming , Zanele decided to take her running more seriously four years ago and began entering races . Having built up steadily through the distances , she ran her first Comrades Marathon in 2016 , and a second the following year . She has also completed the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and Old Mutual Om Die Dam Ultra twice each , and has another 10-plus marathons under her belt . She is therefore more than capable of completing 18 races in seven months , but this year she will push herself to new limits when she takes on the Washie 100 Miler in July as the 18 th race of the challenge .
“ When I started planning this challenge , I decided I want to complete 18 races , so I have spread them out , including some 10km races , but also including the Kosmos 3-in-1 , Two Oceans , Comrades and the Washie ,” she says . “ I ’ ve got my list of races pencilled in , but the list has to be flexible , due to the fact that I travel a fair amount for work , but the big races will stay . The Washie will be a big step up for me , and from a fundraising point of view , it will require some help , as you need your own support team , so I ’ m looking for support from a car brand , or accommodation , or a sports brand , to make the final push of my fundraising challenge possible .”
Depression is a silent killer in South Africa : Statistics show that 23 people commit suicide daily , mostly men , and there are hundreds of attempts on a daily basis . To make matters worse , depression and mental health issues are stigmatised in many South African communities , so many people do not speak about these issues , and this only adds to the distress of both the sufferers and those whose loved ones turn to suicide .
Having lost her father to this debilitating condition on 16 June 2008 , and then suffering depression herself as a result , Joburg-based Zanele decided that 2018 would not only mark the 10 th anniversary of his passing , but could also be her opportunity to do something to challenge the stigma around depression and suicide . This inspired the 33-year-old analytical specialist for Google SA to take on 18 races between January and July 2018 for her # Rise18 campaign , not only to raise awareness of the problem , but also to raise R180,000 for the non-profit South Africa Depression and Anxiety Group ( SADAG ), Africa ’ s largest mental health and advocacy group .
“ I was very close to my dad – he would take me to school , to restaurants , he even used to take me to the hair salon , and it was only later that I realised he
Having launched the campaign in January , with social media and YouTube elements , Zanele says she has been overwhelmed by the response , especially from people sending messages about their own experiences . “ It made me realise how many more people are affected than we know , and I want to share their stories too , because this is so much bigger than me . I ’ m also getting more and more requests from runners who want to join me in various races , to help me rise and demystify depression and suicide , and lend a helping hand to those who need it .”
You can support Zanele in her journey to rise against depression and suicide by following her at www . facebook . com / Rise18Zanele or www . twitter . com / zanhlatshwayo , and you can make a donation via www . backabuddy . co . za / rise18 .
Images : Jetline Action Photo and courtesy Zanele Hlatshwayo
10 ISSUE 104 MARCH 2018 / www . modernathlete . co . za