Running in remembrance
Women’s race has special significance for family
THE annual Spar Women’s Race in Port Elizabeth means a lot of different things to people but for the Ferreira family of Lakeside, it is a day to celebrate the life of Jeanette Ferreira.
Ten years ago, while running the race, Jeanette collapsed and was taken to hospital, where she died.
Her two daughters, Taryn and Nicola, along with several other family members, have been running the race since her death, at the age of 46.
Taryn said her mother died of an aneurysm that had gone unnoticed until it burst during the race.
“Nicola and I started doing the race in her honour a year after she died.
“This was our way of keeping our mother’s memory alive because we know that she was at the time of her passing very much into fitness and she enjoyed participating in fun runs,” Taryn said.
Nicola, who was in matric at Westering High School at the time, said it was during her mo- ther’s first Spar Women’s Race that tragedy struck.
“My mother was losing weight and took part in anything that could help her on that journey. When she died, she had already lost about 20kg,” Nicola said.
The sisters, along with their cousins and grandmother Kitty Leite, 77, will be doing the 5km run with Jeanette’s first grandchild, Ashton Slabbert, who is only six months old.
“Our father, Henry, will also be silly with us. He will be wearing full-on drag and will also take part in the race to support us in our day of remembrance,” the sisters said.
Owner of News Cafe at the Boardwalk, Sandy Zoetmulder, 33, said she would also be running to support her cousins.
Nicola, who is getting married tomorrow, said the race being a day after her wedding was a bonus.
“It’s sort of the next best thing, with her not being there. It makes her part of the celebrations and part of my wedding weekend,” she said.
The race takes place on Saturday from the Pollok Beach grass area. The 5km event starts at 7am and the 10km at 7.45am.