When Charleen was invited to join Run/Walk For Life Middelburg, she decided to take a leap of faith and laced up her walking shoes for her very first session. On her first day, the 61-year-old weighed in at 172kg.
Like all Run/Walk for Life newcomers, Charleen started with field work, improving with every stride. Within her first month, she walked a miraculous 145km!
The progress she was making, combined with the encouragement of her coach and the support of the Run/Walk For Life community, kept her coming back. Before long, the walking bug had truly bitten — and there was no stopping her.
To date, Charleen has walked and run an astonishing 1,5400km, and along the way she has lost 70kg. She is still working towards her goal weight and hopes to lose another 30kg.
Charleen’s journey has not been without challenges. She lives with Cushing’s syndrome, osteoporosis, and scoliosis affecting the C-curve of her spine. After losing weight, she underwent surgery to remove excess skin, but unfortunately, the procedure — as well as a subsequent surgery on her legs — did not go as planned. The complications left her with significant damage to her legs and ongoing restrictions in her daily life and movement.
She is, however, determined not to be defined by this. Despite the mental and physical challenges, Charleen continues her mission to lose the last few kilograms. She is motivated, determined and ever grateful for her Run/Walk For Life family.
Charleen’s resilience, motivation, and positive spirit continue to inspire everyone around her.
