‘Breaking free from chains’
“Doing this to raise funds for Logan Bartle is the cherry on the top for me as helping such a precious boy makes my heart so happy,” Fit for Logan participant Caron Troskie told the GO! & Express recently.
“It’s been a blessing to me as much as it’s going to be a blessing to Logan, so being able to give back when something blesses me is awesome.”
Incarcerated for five years on fraud charges, Troskie was released in 2018 and since then, she has been getting her life back on track professionally and relationship-wise with her family.
During her imprisonment her diet consisted mainly of high-starch content and she had a relative lack of exercise, both of which contributed towards weight gain and impacted negatively on her general well-being.
Upon release, this was exacerbated by her consuming food that she’d been unable to eat while in prison.
In March this year, her parole ended and she felt she had reached the stage where she needed to change to a healthier way of living. This coincided with the launch of the Fit for Logan Challenge and on March 17, she signed up.
“God has taken me on such a process of transformation over the last eight years, starting with a spiritual rebirth and a renewing of my mind, so a physical transformation was inevitable,” Troskie said.
“When this challenge came up, it felt like another step in an holistic healing by a loving and faithful God. A little more ‘dying to self’ is required — a literal laying down of the flesh.
“I then re-read Roman’s 12:1 ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.’
“So now, although very challenging, sticking to my meal plans and exercising are acts of worship and it makes it all the more palatable for me to endure this process.”
Troskie, who is a mother of two daughters, has her own set of challenges to face as she balances her home life, her career as well as attending and overseeing community events.
Furthermore, she will be adding a bi-weekly fitness regimen with Wanda Fourie, owner of Shape Up Gym, as well as the correct application of the customised healthy eating plan designed by dietician Warwick van der Lingen.
Troskie said she believes strongly in the benefits of a good support base.
“As with any big change that you go through, you always need people to lean on, who can also encourage, support and motivate you. Don’t try to do things on your own. The support of the community and your family and friends are extremely important.”
If you would like to sponsor Caron for her weight loss and thereby donate towards Logan, you can contact her on 081508-4874 or e-mail her at caron@linkfm.co.za
All funds raised go to Logan’s Smile (@LogansSmileZA), to which Fit for Logan is affiliated, and assists the Bartle family to raise funds for Logan’s mobility, educational and medical requirements.
Troskie, who hosts Link FM’s “Reaching Higher” from 9.30am until 12pm weekdays, will bring you progress reports every second Wednesday at 10am. The next one will be broadcast on April 14.
- The GO! & Express is the official and sole print media sponsor of this initiative.