FIVE runners who gave up a chance at completing the gruelling Rhodes Trail Run to help a fellow competitor who had broken her leg, have been honoured for their selfless act.
The runners - Lauren Lincoln and Heather Joyce, both of East London, Anton de Munnik, Ross Lesser and Elaine Cuffe - had arrived just before the halfway mark of the 50km Liberty Health Rhodes Trail Run a few weeks ago, when they came across an injured Marina van Deventer.
Van Deventer, 51, had broken her ankle and her fellow runners helped her to safety to a checkpoint some three kilometres away.
After the accident, Van Deventer underwent surgery which resulted in a steel plate being inserted into her ankle.
The Rhodes Trail Run attracts runners on an invitation-only basis. The invitations to the following year's race are forfeited if the runner fails to complete the course - something the "Good Samaritans" brushed aside when they decided to help the injured Van Deventer.
Darrell Raubenheimer of Rhodes Trail Run said they decided to award the five runners with medals in recognition of their "generous spirit, unselfish attitude and good sportsmanship". Special brass clasps were made and attached to 2009 Liberty Health Rhodes Trail Run medals, which were sent to them last week.
"Each of the Good Samaritans received one of these Special Recognition Medevac Award medals as a tribute and as a memento of their day in the shadow of Ben MacDhui," he said. The runners will also be given another opportunity to compete in the race next year.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, the "Good Samaritan" East London pair said they did not expect any reward for helping Van Deventer. Lincoln said they decided to investigate when they realised that Van Deventer was experiencing problems. They were joined by Lesser, De Munnik and Cuffe a few minutes later. Joyce went to summon help from the mountain rescue team, while Lesser and De Munnik held onto Van Deventer's arm and dragged her through the snow. They were later met by the mountain rescue team, who placed Van Deventer onto a stretcher. She was then taken to Rhodes before being transferred to a hospital in Pretoria.
Lincoln said she could not simply turn a blind eye and pretend she did not see Van Deventer's plight at the time. "I am happy," Lincoln said about her award yesterday.
Joyce said she was also happy about the award: "I did not expect the medal. I was just helping her."
She said there was no way she could have continued the race without trying to help Van Deventer.
"She was in the middle of nowhere. It was very cold and she was visibly traumatised."
Van Deventer, who was discharged from hospital about three weeks ago, is recovering from her injury. - By SINO MAJANGAZA
