Umdloti resident raises over R100 000 running half marathon for beachfront repairs

Umdloti Smart Village precinct manager Vicky Schnetler (42) put her body on the line to raise more than R100 000 for urgently needed maintenance along the village’s beachfront.

Beachgoers have suffered injuries, including broken legs, after falling on collapsing beach stairs, while broken promenade railings no longer provide adequate pedestrian safety.

How did she do it? By running the Balwin Sport Dolphin Coast Half Marathon on Sunday, no less than 16 years after hanging up her running shoes.

“It was such fun! The crowd support along the way made the race much easier than I had expected,” said Schnetler.

Funds were raised through pledges per kilometre and generous once-off donations from businesses and residents.

“I cried when we tallied the amount this morning,” she said on Monday.

“I’m emotional that people have enough faith in me to support fixing the beachfront.”

The idea to run the half marathon as a fundraiser came after a conversation with Umdloti Letting’s David Downs just four weeks before race day.

“It was so much harder to get running fit than in my 20s. I didn’t expect age and having had three children to have such a big impact,” she laughed.

As pledges began to roll in, the level of community support brought what she described as “self-imposed pressure.”

“I am so grateful for Umdloti Smart Village chairperson Debbie-Lee Gaines’ encouragement when I felt stressed.

She reminded me that I’ve got this.”

Schnetler also credited her performance to her best friend, Chloe-Simone Hoffman, for on-route support, as well as inspiration from her three children, Belinda, Michelle and Raynard Schnetler.