SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge - Saturday 3 September
KZN Ambassadors Announced
Four phenomenal local KwaZulu-Natal women have been selected as the race ambassadors for this year’s SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge that takes place nationally on Saturday 3 September.
With the National race theme for this year’s challenge being I Rise, the four local women can all attest to their own personal uprisings, having overcome various challenges and determinedly made their way to the top of their games.
The race ambassadors for the KZN leg of the 2022 SPAR KZN Women’s Virtual Challenge are former Protea’s Netball star, Baby Proteas coach and teacher, Precious Mthembu; life coach, radio, TV and film personality, Raeesa Mahomed; The Sharks and SA Rugby player and firefighting hero, Zinhle Ndawonde and actress; and comedian, Lisa Bobbert.
This year’s race theme is a celebration of how women of our nation have all mastered their challenges in this day and age. Using the hashtag, #IRise, the 2022 SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge inspires all participants to become a part of a triumphant community that rises above their challenges, especially with this province's most recent trials and tribulations.
Lisa Bobbert
No stranger to the spotlight, multi-award-winning actress and comedian Lisa Bobbert has overcome many hurdles in both her personal and professional life. Most recently, rising above the CoViD challenge that crippled South Africa’s live performance industry, Bobbert and her husband, Aaron McIlroy took the forced time out to re-create and re-envision themselves with their successful social media channel Welcome2Durban, and streaming their shows on online platforms.
Raeesa Mahomed
Well-known life coach, radio, TV and film personality, Raeesa Mahomed claims her greatest life achievement is raising and empowering her two beautiful daughters. Having conquered breast cancer in 2013, she went on a journey of self-discovery which led her to being certified as a Master Life and Transformation Coach. She has helped dozens of people rise above their challenges, become the best version of themselves and create the life they want.
Precious Mthembu
KZN Netball’s darling, Precious Mthembu life started out in Botha’s Hill and reaching her dreams, her life with Netball has taken her far and wide. She has been honoured with the 2021 KZN Sport Personality of the Year award, she has 97 National Netball Caps, is currently the U21 Baby SPAR Proteas Assistant Coach and the U19 SA Netball Head Coach. Her current role is inspiring youngsters in the Danville Park Girls’ High School’s classrooms where she teaches isiZulu and guides future netball stars – a passion of hers.
Zinhle Ndawonde
Rising above the stereotyping of being a female rugby player in a rural community, Zinhle Ndawonde hasn’t let anything stop her from realising her dreams. While the passionate and determined young woman’s journey has not been easy, Ndawonde claims that rugby offered her so many life-changing opportunities along with a chance to see the world. The combination of her tremendously physical career and passion demand a clean and healthy lifestyle which she embraces.
Taking to the roads on race day, the four ambassadors will be encouraging all and sundry to join them. They will be rising early to take to some of Durban’s most scenic routes where they hope to meet and greet members of the public participating in this fantastic event.
“We are so honoured to have such incredible role models as our 2022 Ambassadors for our Virtual Challenge,” says Max Oliva, Managing Director of SPAR KZN. “The last two years have been incredibly challenging to our KwaZulu-Natal province, and everyone has been affected in some way by the upheavals we have experienced. To have positive voices who have risen above their own personal challenges, provides us with a vision and hope that we can all rise. We look forward to seeing our KZN SPAR Women’s Challenge family and friends – old and new taking part this year – and to the sense of community the race offers people across the country.”
To enter, visit www.sparvirtualchallenge.co.za. Entries cost R120 and include a t-shirt, medal, face buff, drawstring bag and a My Virtual Challenge magazine. There are options to have the packs sent via the delivery service Pargo or delivered to participating SPAR stores.
ENDS
CAPTION TO PHOTOS:
KZN Ambassadors _ Raeesa Mahomed, Zinhle Ndawonde, Lisa Bobbert and Precious Mthembu