Comrades Marathon athlete Marissa Groenewald - raising awareness for human trafficking - one skip at a time
Image: Supplied
Marissa Groenewald is bound to attract attention on Sunday when she skips her way to Durban from Pietermaritzburg during the Comrades Marathon.
Groenewald, 41, from Hillcrest, known as the rope runner, will take on the gruelling 89.98km race while continuously skipping with her jump rope flicking the ground.
This year marks the 98th edition of the Ultimate Human Race and is the 49th down run.
She is making history while taking on this incredible feat for a cause that's close to her heart, Love Justice International. It is an organisation that is fighting against human trafficking.
Love Justice specialises in transit monitoring, which means intercepting trafficking victims before they cross borders, bringing them back to safety and reuniting them with their families.
"I witnessed the heartbreaking realities of human trafficking firsthand through my mother's work, where she dedicated herself to restoring dignity to women caught in trafficking in Asia. Her selfless work inspired me to use my platform to make a difference.
"My goal is to raise R500 000, which will directly contribute to protecting lives from the horrors of human trafficking," she said.
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While Groenewald attracts attention and stares from spectators, they will notice a QR code on a bib she will be wearing bearing the words Why Scan Here.
The QR code will take people to the Love Justice International page to learn more about the cause and donate.
"I have also started a crowdfunding page on Backabuddy," said the mother of two.
Groenewald's taste of marathon rope running has been in the Cape Peninsula and the Two Oceans Marathons.
"This is my third Comrades Marathon, but first time skipping and running. I will be starting at 5am with the wheelchair athletes. I get to lead the race for an hour at least before the rest of the athletes start.
"I am just going for a finish and plan to reach the finish within 11 to 12 hours. Rope running is high intensity but significantly slower," she said.
Groenewald took on skipping after suffering an injury about 18 months ago and was advised that a good way to keep fit was to skip.
"I began running and skipping and after doing a kilometre I realised why no one else was doing it. You have to apply your mind and use your shoulders and back. Once I got my groove I grew in terms of distance and endurance.
"I haven't hit anyone with my rope while running," she laughed.
https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/the-rope-runners-race-for-humanity?
SUNDAY TRIBUNE
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