I’ve been staring at my MacBook for a while now. I know what I want to say. I know all the stories I want to tell about the funrun. In fact, I’m feeling all the feelings after our event, but I do not actually know how to start this week’s blog. I want to tell you about the run, but I realised that maybe I should give a bit of context first; like why we need to raise funds.
The money we raised is for Zazen Respite Care, which is a non-profit. It is easy to get confused because the lines that separate us (Hospitality Lodges and Zazen) are thin. To say we have a bit of an incestuous relationship is not an exaggeration. Let me explain how it works. Zazen is the brainchild of Dr Jesne and Dr Jodi. They have seen so many hospices fold because they rely solely on donations, and many that are still operating are just barely hanging on. Dr Jodi (who is a PhD doctor by the way, not medical, and a full-on genius when it comes to facility management), came up with a sustainable model to run a hospice/palliative care facility where you fund raise but also, the medical aid patients’ subsidise the uninsured rather than turn a profit for shareholders. It is wonderful that the NGO operates in such a way that Zazen meets the fancy needs of the insured, as well as giving access to excellent, dignified palliative care to those who would usually die in a government hospital or at home, where symptoms would not be well managed.
So how are the Hospitality lodges involved? In so many ways! Zazen rents the Zazen Den which is on our property. This is where Dr Jodi and Sr Robyn work. Zazen also uses the Lodge’s facilities for their patients (the one in the Gardens, not Sunninghill Recovery Lodge), as well as our rooms and our carers. This might be seen as a tenant-landlord relationship, or a client-service-provider vibe, and technically I suppose it is, but over the past two years, it has grown into a relationship of deep trust, shared values, mutual generosity and support of one another. If Zazen benefits, so do we, and vice versa.
So, now that we have that out the way, let’s talk about the funrun. The idea behind the run is obviously to raise some money to help provide more palliative care access to those who can’t afford it, but also to raise awareness around what palliative care is. You’d be surprised to know how many people still do not understand this type of care and what it really entails. We do the run on World Palliative and hospice care day, as it is obviously great for our stress levels seeing that is exactly when Joburg’s weather is wild with thunderstorms and rain.
One important thing was that we did not want to use any of Zazen’s money for the run, and we didn’t. We got amazingly wonderful people to sponsor everything.
- Our beautiful T-shirts were given to us by a mom of one of Dr Jes’ patients. He was a palliative care patient but for a variety of reasons, ended up at Recovery where we were able to care for him and get to know and love his family.
- Our stunning Slazenger caps were donated by the gracious Kerry Mawson from Rawsons property. We were so sad that in this very week, her husband passed away from cancer. Sadly, this happened in hospital, otherwise we would have been so honoured to look after him.
- Chris and Chris from Sunninghill Spar, gave us delicious individually wrapped muffins. Chris squared have always supported whatever good cause needed it.
- GoZone gave us tons of water, and even branded it for us. I love that they are friends of neighbours of Jes’ brother. After the 5km trot, people were very grateful for the water.
- Jes and Jodi are real coffee snobs, and we felt we wanted to give our runners/walkers good, bougie coffee. It almost fell through a few days before, but SurewayFunerals sponsored the coffee which, if I say so myself, was divine. (It was so bougie that we even had almond milk!) and, as a bonus, we love that we supported Kella, a drummer and barista I’ve known for many years with his small business.
Like last year, we planned the run with coach Kyle from Run/Walk for Life and the team from Sunninghill Striders. Coach Kyle was so fabulous and worked out a route of exactly 5km and got our marshals marshalling. We had great marshals, everyone I feed at home had to marshal (including spouse, offspring, helpers and offsprings’ boyfriends). The very heavily pregnant social worker Michelle insisted on directing the runners too, but we gave her an assistant in case her baby decided to come early. The marshal WhatsApp group was a feast, and Zuzu, our one front of house staff member, treated it like a military operation.
The funrun participants were a wonderful mixed bag of people. Some were ripped, highly prepared and trained athletes, while others huffed and puffed their way to the finish line to have a cigarette. There were some dogs taking their owners for walks and one dog that was carried. Our winners were a couple who are so good looking it should be illegal. Dr Andy Stewart and his physio wife Amie hardly broke a sweat as they glided into first place and had a quick sip of water before rushing off to see some patients ( Andy is actually in Australia now, representing SA in a triathlone on the weekend ) Of the 120 participants, many were family members of patients, some were neighbours, many were Walk-for-lifers, and our siblings, friends and family all showed up for us. We had almost double the amount of participants compared to last year and Jodi said she could hardly contain her emotions when she blew the whistle at the start.
We raised R56 000 and counting. My cousin, who is a vet in Hermanus, didn’t even get to walk but made the biggest individual donation. I suppose, being a vet, he understands just how important a beautiful goodbye is. (We still seem to do this better with animals than people in most of our culture). Most people gave more than the minimum R50 donation and apart from the money, what people gave was their support and love.
By the time the last vanilla muffin was gobbled up and the final water bottle was recycled, we were all a little tired, a bit sunburnt and a lot grateful. It wasn’t just a walk or a run — it was a celebration of kindness, of community, of generosity and of people who care deeply about how others live and die. Every step taken, every Rand raised, helps us make sure that someone facing the hardest part of their life journey doesn’t have to do it alone and without that extra layer of care Zazen offers. We got to witness such magnanimity and spirit on Saturday. It reminded me that even if we don’t know what lies ahead on our paths, what we’re creating — dignity in care, comfort for those at their most vulnerable, true connection and compassion — all begins with a single step. Here’s to many more steps taken together between the Lodges and Zazen, and to the hope and compassion we carry forward for all those we get to help.
Thank you to everyone who ran, walked, donated, clapped, or simply showed up. You reminded us why we do what we do.