Epic run to reach out to fathers

FOR more than 40 days, a Lamberts Bay-born actor and father will be on a one-man 1 800km running expedition from Cape Town to Durban and then attempt the Comrades Marathon, all in a bid to raise awareness about the problem of absent fathers.

Marius Brown sets out on his redemption run today and will run to Strand before heading out to Kleinmond tomorrow and Stanford on Monday.

Following the N2 along the Garden Route and into the Eastern Cape, he expects to reach Durban just in time to pick up his Comrades number and join thousands of other runners on the gruelling 89km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on May 29.

Brown speaks of running not only as a sport but as a lifestyle and a means to get his life back on track following a spate of bad decisions and misfortunes.

He separated from his wife in 2003 and would see his children at irregular intervals, often missing out on their childhood achievements and pain, he said.

Having had a difficult childhood himself with separated parents and helplessly witnessing his brother drowning, Brown said he had resorted to alcohol to cope.

When he decided to reach out to his children in 2009, the journey was challenging and emotional. “This run is a call to absent fathers to get involved. Even if the parents are no longer together, fathers should take responsibility and play their role,” Brown said.

The run will take place over 43 days with major stops at Albertinia, Knysna, East London, Idutywa and Harding.

noloyiso.mtembu@inl.co.za