A LOCAL mother has turned her deeply personal struggle with infertility into a growing movement of support and connection for moms in the Upper Highway area.
Charlene Brancart, founder of the walking group Moms And Tots Est 2025, began running during one of the most challenging chapters of her life.  After facing numerous roadblocks while undergoing IVF treatment, she turned to running as a way to stay emotionally grounded and mentally occupied.

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“At the time I was on a very lost path with IVF treatments, roadblock after roadblock, not knowing if I would ever conceive a child. I started running as an outlet to keep busy. It was the perfect distraction and kept my mind focused on races, time trials or my next personal best,” Brancart said.

After a difficult pregnancy, Brancart was eager to return to running — but this time, with a new companion in tow. Her first run with her baby, affectionately called a “pram trot,” happened on a rainy Saturday morning during the launch of a fertility clinic. “It was a surreal moment. It felt like everything had come full circle,” she recalled.

Inspired by the isolation many new mothers face, especially those without access to regular childcare, Brancart decided to transform her passion into a community initiative. She launched Moms And Tots Est 2025, a walking and jogging group for mothers with children, tots or dogs, meeting every Saturday morning at 07:30 at various venues across the Upper Highway area.

“I saw there was a desperate need for a safe space for my fellow mom friends to join in on the trots. This movement allows all the moms to enjoy fresh air and exercise with their baby in tow,” she explained.

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The group has since grown into more than just a fitness routine. It’s become a community space where mothers connect, support one another, and build meaningful friendships.
“Every season of motherhood has its own challenges, and seeing my fellow mom trotters leaning on each other and building their own friendships weekly — I know I’ve done my job. It takes a village to raise a child. We now have our village,” she said.

Looking ahead, Brancart hopes to see the group grow in strength and in numbers. She also hopes to attract sponsors to support the weekly walks with give-aways and prizes to keep the momentum going.

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“We’re building something beautiful, and it would be amazing to have local brands partner with us to make our trots a little sweeter,” she said.
Interested moms can follow Momsandtrots on Instagram at @Momsandtrots, or join the WhatsApp community group on 083 611 8176.

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