SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge Introducing Durban SPAR Women’s Challenge Ambassadors Hollywoodbets Kings Park Outer Fields: Sunday 25 June. SPAR KZN is delighted to reveal four exceptional local KwaZulu-Natal women as the ambassadors for this year’s Durban SPAR Women’s Challenge that takes place around the beachfront in Durban on Sunday 25 June. Returning as ambassadors for the second year at the KZN event are actress and comedian, Lisa Bobbert; former SPAR Protea Netball player, Baby Proteas Assistant Coach and educator at Danville Park Girls’ High School, Precious Mthembu and former Springbok, current KZN Rugby player and firefighting hero, Zinhle Ndawonde. Introducing award winning Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist Dr Marise Subrayan.

This year’s race theme is a celebration of women conquering and overcoming life’s every day challenges. Using the hashtag, #ItsPersonal, the 2023 SPAR Women’s Challenge wishes to encourage and motivate the women of KZN, showing that their sheer personal determination is key to attaining their goals. The race is just one way to show it’s a personal journey and that ‘challenges’ can be overcome, and goals attained. A ray of sunshine, multi-award-winning actress and comedian Lisa Bobbert continues to dazzle daily in Durban. Having overcome many obstacles in both her personal and professional life, Bobbert and her husband, Aaron McIlroy, radiate optimism and positivity.

Bobbert shared, “It was an absolute honour being a SPAR Women’s Challenge Ambassador last year. I am not an athlete, just a mother trying to do the best I can for my family. Being a part of last year’s event, both as an ambassador and as a competitor, was so affirming. It was wonderful to be a part of something where we all come together and celebrated who we are and where we are going.” Sharing Bobbert’s sentiments, uber strong, fitness fanatic, Zinhle Ndawonde hasn’t let anything or anyone crush her dreams, rising above stereotyping to becoming a highly decorated female rugby player hailing from a rural community, and a heroic firefighter. Her pure passion, determination, and following her heart has afforded her many life-changing opportunities along with a chance to see and experience the world.

“Sharing the roads with so many phenomenal women last year, was truly humbling and amazing. We are all somehow fighting our own personal battles, but for these wonderful occasions, we come together as one. We rose together and supported one another. I was running alongside total strangers, running past women I had never met and most probably will never see again but every step of the way, we lifted each other up. It was beautiful.” Motivating and moulding the future, role model Precious Mthembu’s competitive days on the netball court might be slowing down but she certainly isn’t giving up. Her current role is inspiring youngsters in the Danville Park Girls’ High School’s classrooms where she teaches isiZulu and guides their future netball stars – a passion of hers. Away from the classroom, she coaches, igniting and uplifting young talents, be it youth players in the baby Protea’s teams or development players closer to home.

Her stand out moment from the 2022 race: “I loved running alongside my development netball team, the joy and seeing them having fun in a competitive way was mind blowing. The sense of freedom and happiness emanating from my girls and other competitors, was contagious. The opportunity to connect with the community was really enjoyable.” Newcomer to the team, Dr Marise Subrayan is an Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist, based at St Augustine’s hospital in Durban. The ethos of her practice is to encourage education and female empowerment, assisting women in making individualised, informed decisions about their physical, mental and sexual health. She has interests in hormonal disorders, sexual-dysfunction and aesthetic gynaecology, and her practice is LGBTQ+ friendly. She has presented her research on female genital mutilation both locally and overseas. She has a keen interest in continuing further research in O&G and often collaborates with a multi-disciplinary team to provide care for the under-serviced community. She was recently recognised at the annual KZN Panache Women of Wonder awards.

“Mother Theresa once said, I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to cause many ripples. I am greatly appreciative to be recognised alongside these likeminded women who have been creating ripples in their own communities.” Taking to the roads on race day, the four ambassadors will be encouraging all and sundry to join them. Follow their #ItsPersonal journey on social media as they train, get ready and take part in Durban’s most beautiful race where they hope to meet and greet and have loads of fun with the eager participants. To enter, visit www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban. For all the relevant race information and to enter online go to www.sparwomensrace.co.za/durban.