Ambassadors
Meet the SPAR KZN Ambassadors
Returning as our ambassadors for the second-year running are actress and comedian , Lisa Bobbert ; former SPAR Protea Netball player , Baby Proteas Assistant Coach , and educator at Danville Park Girls ’ High School , Precious Mthembu and former Springbok , current KZN Rugby player and firefighting hero , Zinhle Ndawonde . Adding to this remarkable trio , we are proud to introduce award winning Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist Dr Marise Subrayan .
Using the hashtag , # ItsPersonal , the 2023 SPAR Women ’ s Challenge wishes to encourage and motivate the women of KZN , showing that their sheer personal determination is key to attaining their goals . The race is just one way to show it ’ s a personal journey and that ‘ challenges ’ can be overcome , and goals attained .
Lisa Bobbert
Zinhle Ndawonde
Uber strong , fitness fanatic , Zinhle hasn ’ t let anything or anyone crush her dreams , rising above stereotyping to becoming a highly decorated female rugby player hailing from a rural community , and a heroic firefighter . Her pure passion , determination , and following her heart has afforded her many life-changing opportunities along with a chance to see and experience the world .
A ray of sunshine , multi-award-winning actress and comedian Lisa continues to dazzle daily in Durban . Having overcome many obstacles in both her personal and professional life , Lisa and her husband , Aaron McIlroy , radiate optimism and positivity .
Lisa shared , “ It was an absolute honour being a SPAR Women ’ s Challenge Ambassador last year . I am not an athlete , just a mother trying to do the best I can for my family . Being a part of last year ’ s event , both as an ambassador and as a competitor , was so affirming . It was wonderful to be a part of something where we all come together and celebrated who we are and where we are going .”
Motivating and moulding the future , role model Precious ’ s competitive days on the netball court might be slowing down but she certainly isn ’ t giving up . Her current role is inspiring youngsters in the Danville Park Girls ’ High School ’ s classrooms where she teaches isiZulu and guides their future netball stars – a passion of hers . Away from the classroom , she coaches , igniting and uplifting young talents , be it youth players in the baby Protea ’ s teams or development players closer to home .
Her stand out moment from the 2022 race : “ I loved running alongside my development netball team , the joy and seeing them having fun in a competitive way was mind blowing . The sense of freedom and happiness emanating from my girls and other competitors , was contagious . The opportunity to connect with the community was really enjoyable .”
Precious Mthembu
“ Sharing the roads with so many phenomenal women last year , was truly humbling and amazing . We are all somehow fighting our own personal battles , but for these wonderful occasions , we come together as one . We rose together and supported one another . I was running alongside total strangers , running past women I had never met and most probably will never see again but every step of the way , we lifted each other up . It was beautiful .”
Newcomer to the team , Dr Marise Subrayan is an Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist , based at St Augustine ’ s hospital in Durban . The ethos of her practice is to encourage education and female empowerment , assisting women in making individualised , informed decisions about their physical , mental and sexual health . She has interests in hormonal disorders , sexualdysfunction and aesthetic gynaecology , and her practice is LGBTQ + friendly . She has presented her research on female genital mutilation both locally and overseas . She has a keen interest in continuing further research in O & G and often collaborates with a multi-disciplinary team to provide care for the underserviced community . She was recently recognised at the annual KZN Panache Women of Wonder awards .
“ Mother Theresa once said , I alone cannot change the world , but I can cast a stone across the waters to cause many ripples . I am greatly appreciative to be recognised alongside these likeminded women who have been creating ripples in their own communities .”
Dr Marise Subrayan
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