Elsie Venter, AACL’s champion running for a cause with paws
“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better” is her favourite quote by The Dalai Lama.
Elsie Venter, 55, is living proof that you can’t keep a good woman down. Paralysed in 1997 when hit by a car, she was told she would never walk again. This year though she will be striding forth in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on 18 September to raise funds for the Animals Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) Durban Branch.
After her accident Elsie couldn’t speak and hear and was plagued with epileptic seisures. She even had brain surgery. However due to her strength and determination she even attained her National Diploma in Education with distinction!
The Animal Anti-Cruelty League is an NGO concerned with all aspects of animals welfare, their primary objective being the sterilization of dogs and cats in townships and informal settlements.
From 2013 to 2016 the AACL partnered with the Outreach KZN Project and over just that period collected and returned home over 7000 dogs and cats for sterilization, deworming, vaccination, rabies inoculations and parasite control from Hammersdale and surrounding areas.
For volunteers and staff working at the AACL the balance between demands and work and life can be daunting. “This is a difficult balance to achieve given the constant demand for attention required by a myriad of animals in dire need of care and protection on a day to day basis,” explains Judi Gibson, AACL General Manager described as relentless by those who know her.
Judi says she finds setting clear goals and striving towards the fulfillment of that goal despite any obstacles and never giving up on what she believes in has helped her achieve well. This is probably helped in part by her outlook. “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better” is her favourite quote by The Dalai Lama.
“Focus in the workplace, embrace the tasks at hand, give it your all,” she says “recognise that this is not a job but your job. Be proud of your contribution however big or small.”
If you want to make a donation and support Elsie in her run to raise money for the AACL you can do so by making a payment to the AACL bank account. Their banking details are as follows: Standard bank account in the name of Animal Anti-Cruelty League, Account No: 051350521, Branch Code: 051001. Please use the reference Elsie when making donations to support Elsie for her personal courage, love for the care of animals and the extreme efforts she will endure for her Cause for Paws.
