Durban runner takes on back-to-back Comrades

DURBAN’S Gerald Pavel, along with fellow runner Graham Wells, will tackle the Comrades Marathon back-to-back at the weekend, to raise funds for charity.

On Saturday, 8 June, Gerald and Graham will line up in Pietermaritzburg to run to Durban through the night, and will then turn around and run the Comrades Marathon back to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.

To prepare for this challenge, the duo completed the Deloitte Marathon, Bergville to Ladysmith, and a Route Tester back-to-back to raise awareness and some much-needed funds for the Run for NiQi campaign.

NiQi During, (27), was born to a 17-year-old, unmarried girl in Vryheid. Neither her mother nor grandparents had the means to look after her and welfare stepped in and took her in. NiQi was diagnosed with a terminal illness called Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at the age of five months.

“NiQi was blessed enough to be fostered by a family whose one son was in the same hospital as her with the same disease, and she has been with them ever since. NiQi lived in Pietermaritzburg and when the last CF specialist left Pietermaritzburg her health started to deteriorate and the family made the big decision to move to Pretoria so NiQi could get better health care,” said Gerald.

NiQi’s health deteriorated further to the point where her lung function was 17 per cent, she was wheelchair bound, and had to be on oxygen 24 hours a day.

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It was then that there was a glimmer of hope when the possibility of a double lung transplant presented itself and after careful consideration NiQi decided to go ahead and get listed on the donor waiting list.

“After moving to KZN and two-and-a-half years on the waiting list, NiQi finally got the call to say that there were potential lungs for her. She had the transplant, but unfortunately, one year after the transplant, her body started rejecting the lungs. NiQi has been in hospital since January awaiting a second double lung transplant. Despite all of this, she has never given up, but there is such a financial burden on the family that it is difficult to stay positive,” said Gerald.

“Having met NiQi and been inspired by her story and ‘never say die’ attitude, a few of us put our heads together and thought of ways we could help relieve some of the financial burden that she and her family face on a daily basis. Making a difference for other people has always been an integral part of our lives and what better way to do this by doing what most CF patients can’t do – run!” he said.

NiQi has pledged to donate 50 per cent of whatever is raised to assist fellow CF patients and this will be facilitated through BackaBuddy.

If you would like to support Graham and Gerald with their running challenge, donate to Back-a-buddy: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/run-for-niqi

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