Sports junkie takes on Tri-Rock for cancer survivors

AN adventurous uMhlanga resident, Marc Colia, recently raised more than R8 000 while competing in the Tri-Rock Durban Triathlon in Ballito for local NPO, Reach for Recovery SA.

The triathlon involved a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and a 21.1km run. Colia, who is a physiotherapist in Ballito, completed the race in five hours and 49 minutes. The 26-year-old was not only elated with his performance in the 113 km event, but also the amount that he raised. He admitted that it was an impulsive decision.

“It was a last minute thing. I did not have time to train, and the only event that I had recently done that was anywhere near as strenuous was last year’s 65km Amashova marathon. But I wanted to challenge myself and I knew that I was going to do it for a good cause,” he said.

Colia said he was most concerned about the cycling section of the race. “I am a rugby player, and a pretty good swimmer, but I don’t even own a bike. I had to borrow a friend’s for the triathlon,” laughed Colia.

The optimistic sports junkie’s muse was his mother, Sandy Colia, who is a breast cancer survivor and a member of Reach for Recovery SA. “A friend of my mother passed away from breast cancer, simply because it was not detected at an early stage. I hope that the funds will help save a life though awareness and education. People should know the importance of early detection,” said Colia.

The fundraising bug has since bitten Colia, as he and several friends will be competing in the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge in November to raise funds for another worthy cause. “We are hoping to raise funds for The Lonely Road Foundation, which is a South African development program that aims to improve the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children,” he said.

According to Colia he aspires to continue to help other local NPOs that are not in the media spotlight. Contact Marc on 0820796440 or marcycolia@gmail.com.