Although parkrun has not resumed as yet, parkrunners of Parys took part in a social farewell run/walk event this morning on part of the local parkrun route to say goodbye to parkrun director, Lisa de Speville.
Five years ago, Lisa moved to Parys and immediately got involved in her new community as the Event Director of the Parys parkrun and as a member and participant of the Likkewaan Canoe Club.
Power issues in Parys have forced her business to relocate and so she is moving from Parys at the end of this month.
“I have loved my years in Parys,” she says. “As a sporty and outdoorsy person, Parys has so much to offer with trails, open spaces and the Vaal River. Through parkrun and the canoe club, I have had the fortune of meeting so many wonderful people. Being a small town, it is a treat to pass people you know as you drive or run past, or to bump into them at the shops. Parys is a very warm and friendly town.”
As the Event Director of the Parys parkrun and regular volunteer, Lisa knows many of the regular participants. “I’ve seen so many people progress from barely walking the five-kilometre route to reaching parkrun milestones of 50 and 100 parkruns completed, beginning to run and to travel and participate in other events, and to achieving fitness and health goals. While credit is totally due to each person for their commitment and effort, I’ve felt like a proud mother hen, celebrating their successes with them,” she says.
Also relocating is Celliers Kruger, Lisa’s business partner in their company, Vagabond Kayaks. Celliers has lived in Parys for some 18 years. He first came to Parys as a river guide in the 1990s, while still a university student in Potchefstroom. He made a name for himself in the kayaking community as an accomplished paddler, river guide – locally and abroad, an author of kayaking books, and has an award-winning kayak designer. He started the company Fluid Kayaks in the early 2000s, a business that manufactures plastic kayaks. Although he left Fluid a number of years ago, the company still operates in Parys. Two years ago, Celliers launched Vagabond Kayaks, a kayak-manufacturing company with a focus on high-performance, recreational plastic kayaks. He has been actively involved in the Likkewaan Canoe Club for 17 years as a member and on the committee – most recently as chairperson of the club.
“For our business to succeed, we need to make this move,” Lisa explains. “I will definitely miss this town and I’ll remember my years here for the community, my neighbours and the friends who have made Parys a home.”
Join Lisa on Saturday, 24 October at 08h00 for a farewell walk/run on part of the parkrun route (note that parkrun has not yet resumed). This social activity will start from Egweni at the gate under the bridge as Mimosa, the usual parkrun start venue, is experiencing various issues. Please wear facemasks at the start/finish, no hugging or handshaking, and maintain social distancing.
If you are a paddler, then please join Celliers and Lisa for a social farewell paddle from the Likkewaan Canoe Club at 17h00 (start time) on Tuesday, 27 October 2020.
