MARISSA Groenewald, popularly known on social media as The Rope Runner, is often seen at the Durban beachfront promenade where she draws stares and disbelief from strollers.

Groenewald, a devoted trail and long-distance runner, dreams of taking this sport to bigger running stages. She has participated in the Comrades Marathon, but this time she is preparing to take her rope running to the world-renowned run. In October she completed the 10km Umhlanga Run as a rope runner.

Next year she is determined to be part of the 56km Two Oceans and Totalsports marathons as a rope runner. As part of that mission she hopes to make it to the Guiness World Record books as the only, and first, rope runner to compete.

Also read: Children more at risk of human trafficking

Her mission to rope run is not about breaking records, it is very much aligned with creating awareness and raising funds for the anti-human trafficking project, Love Justice.

“Human trafficking is something very close to my heart. Growing up, my mother was very much involved in anti-human trafficking in Asia. I witnessed first-hand how her contribution could save victims. At Love Justice we are all about interception of the criminal act and restoration of dignity for victims,” she said.

“My dream is to inspire more people to join the sport, and hopefully it would become a global phenomenon and even become one of the Olympic sports codes.”

Currently, she is dedicated to training and building up mileage and muscle for the upcoming marathons.

Groenewald urges individuals, and the corporate and private sectors, to pledge support to this cause in which she devotes every kilometre and every skip to raising funds. Donations can be made via www. lovejustice.ngo

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here