Personal message

My name is Quinton Ivan. Jonathan Kinnear and I are running the Ultra Trail Cape Town on the 27 November 2021. We are participating in the 100km race which traverses sections of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, Orangekloof, Llandudno, Hout Bay, the Constantia Winelands, the upper slopes of Kirstenbosch Nature Reserve and Devil's Peak.

The 100km loop has approximately 5 000m of vertical ascent and the terrain is highly technical with steep ascents and descents. The weather can vary drastically with single digit temperatures in the early morning on the top of Table Mountain to 30 degrees plus during the latter part of the day. It is truly a brutal event.

We set-off at 4am on the 27 November and have 24 hours to complete the 100km – we start and end in the dark. The furthest either of us has run on trail is 35kms so this will be the hardest event either of us has undertaken thus far. So why put ourselves through this pain?

The purpose of the challenge is to raise funds for the Breatheasy Programme based at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town. Breatheasy empowers parents of children, reliant on a tracheostomy or artificial ventilation for breathing, to provide safe care for their children at home, significantly improving their quality of life. Donor funds are used to purchase vital medical equipment (ventilators, suction machines and humidifiers). This is an ongoing programme with life-saving medical equipment constantly needed for patients. Without such funding, most parents cannot afford to take their children home. We hope to raise as much funds as possible to empower as many parents to care for their children at home thereby uniting families.

My wife and I have had personal experience with the Breatheasy Programme. Our son, Matthew, spent his first 3 months in ICU with respiratory complications at Panorama Mediclinic. The Breatheasy Programme started by sister Jane Booth at Red Cross Children's Hospital, was instrumental in allowing us to take Matty home and assist us in his recovery. This fundraising is our way of trying to repay them for the support they’ve shown our family. I cannot over-emphasize the great work done by the Breatheasy Programme; it truly is a beacon of excellence in the public sector. For more information on this fantastic initiative, please visit http://breatheasyprogramme.org/

Jono and I will no doubt experience enormous pain and suffering over the 100kms, but it pales in comparison with what some of these kids must endure. They are truly amazing. Please help us raise as much funds as possible to bring some normality to their lives and help unite as many families as possible.

Thank you.

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