Inimitable Megan paddles with a purpose
The doting mom has taken on the task of raising funds and awareness for the KZN Cerebral Palsy Association through the Dusi.
SHE is woman.
The multitude of qualities that can be linked to Hillcrest’s Megan Van Der Merwe are incomparable to her determination to uplift those in need.
It is the passion she has for her family and children that drove her decision to climb back into a canoe and paddle for a cause in this year’s Dusi.Her friend and canoeing partner, Jonathan Hartley, set the ball in motion for the start of the KZN Cerebral Palsy Association fund-raiser.
The 32-year-old mom was thrown a curved ball when her daughter Emma (3) was diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia and James (21 months old) was diagnosed with periventricular volume loss.
It was when Emma’s foot turned in and her parents, worried that she may have hurt herself, had her assessed. She was booked in for an MRI and this is when their concerns were realised.
“When it all started it was a shock,” said Megan.
“We thought it was just a foot MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan. My son at the time was only 11 months old. The paediatrician said we would need to do one for James as well. There was no point in doing a pity party. You have to get on and do something about it,” said the purposeful Megan.
Emma goes to physio once a week and will need to start speech therapy as her condition affects her motor skills.
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The brave little girl went into hospital last year for surgery to help the spasticity in her foot.
She needs to take a tablet everyday to keep it under control.
“We decided that if we were going to do this, to do it for an organisation that helps hundreds of others.”
The fund-raiser #Paddle4EmmaAndJames kicked off last year and Megan has encouraged Highway residents to post photos of themselves being active with the hashtag.
Megan is a mother, businesswoman and an athlete.
She has dropped 14kg since last February and said this was due to her intense workout routines.
She does spinning five days a week, trains for the Dusi on the weekend with paddling sessions that reach up to 40km and fits in a few road runs.
“I have trained harder than I would normally,” laughed Megan.
“It has been a rough journey but now that I have a paddle with purpose, it is something I would love to do each year.”
To help boost the funds raised, visit www.doit4charity.co.za/Megan.van_der_Merwe.
At the time of going to print, Megan raised R8 300 for the KZN Cerebral Palsy Association.
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