Durban North duo tackle Comrades for charity
Denise Towell and Tammy Gray are running this year’s Comrades Marathon for non-profit organisation (NPO) Rainbows and Smiles
UNITED by a common cause, Durban North residents Denise Towell and Tammy Gray are taking on this year’s Comrades Marathon to raise funds for non-profit organisation (NPO) Rainbows and Smiles.
The charitable foundation provides emotional and financial support to children diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening illness, and their families and caregivers.
Towell (Get Fit Athletics Club) and Gray (Savages Athletics Club) are also on opposite sides of the milestone spectrum with the former aiming to complete her 20th for her Double Green Number and the latter aiming to finish her first Comrades Marathon.
As a volunteer for the NPO, Towell has dedicated her last five Comrades Marathons to raising funds for them.
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“I’m really passionate about giving back, especially to Rainbows and Smiles. As a volunteer and regional project manager in KZN, for the NPO, I know and recognise the incredible work they do. I also know the founder, Bonnie Suckling, who lost her son, Jed, to cancer. Her story, as well the families the foundation supports, have inspired me to use my Comrades challenge to do something good for someone else,” Towell said.
Towell, who ran her first Comrades Marathon in 1993, said she will also be drawing on crowd support on the day to get her through difficult patches.
“The crowds make a huge difference. My very first Comrades, I ran with somebody who had already done over 20, and his words were to me: ‘When you get tired, look into the eyes of the people on the side of the road’. It was really a lesson in that everyone is cheering you on and wanting you to keep going,” she said.
For fellow resident Gray, her Comrades run for a cause has personal significance.
“I lost my dad to cancer so I understand the pain and loss a family goes through. Rainbows and Smiles do amazing work with the patients and families of young children fighting cancer. I’ve also learnt so much about the work they do through Denise so it was natural to support them on my first Comrades. By supporting them, we are helping them to support children and their families during a very difficult time,” she said.
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When asked about running her first Comrades Marathon, Gray added that she was nervously excited.
“I’ve been running for the past 16 years, and it was only in the last few years that I considered entering. This year happened to be the one, and I’m very excited and super focused for it. I haven’t set a medal I’m going for as the most important thing for me is just honestly finishing, having fun and soaking up the atmosphere on the day,” she said.
The duo have both set up BackaBuddy pages ahead of the race.
To support Towell, click here and to support Gray click here.
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