Birthmark awareness advocate to line up at SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane
A schoolgirl from Pretoria explained how she made peace with a birthmark on her face and learned to live with it and even use it to her advantage.
Birthmark awareness advocate Chantel Struwig will join a host of SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane ambassadors on race day at SuperSport Park on 3 August.
Struwig has not merely accepted her port-wine birthmark, she has embraced the purplish-red mark covering most of her face.
The Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool pupil has become an overnight sensation thanks to her creative Instagram posts featuring her birthmark.
By embracing her uniqueness, the 18-year-old Struwig serves as a true reflection of this year’s race theme, “Yes I Am…”. Yes, I Am is a rallying cry to women of Tshwane to accept who they are and inspire others through their stories.
Struwig said she hoped to inspire other people to embrace being different and in the process, overcome their insecurities.
“What excites me about being a SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane brand ambassador is being part of a community consisting of strong and independent women who believe the sky is the limit,” Struwig said.
According to Struwig, being part of the ambassador family allows her to open up the eyes of people to see that being different is okay, and being different is beautiful. This also allows her to show anyone with insecurities that it shouldn’t stop them from achieving their goals and that dreams do come true.
Struwig said she was fortunate to have a strong role model in her life who inspired and demonstrated that it was possible to prosper despite life’s setbacks.
“My big sister, Nicole Struwig is hands down the strongest women I know. Even though she had to face challenges at a young age, she still pushed through and realised her goals and dreams,” she explained.
Struwig admits she felt insecure about her birthmark growing up, but she has learned to accept herself despite her blemishes.
“By not meeting the standards of what is considered ‘normal’ really took a toll on how I validate and view myself. Through many years of self-doubt, tears and questioning my worth, I learned to love and accept myself exactly for who I am, birthmark and all. #YesIam, not only means accepting myself but also to embrace who I am,” she concluded.
Struwig also confirmed she would be at the starting line for the 5km race and encouraged other women to join her and “be part of something bigger”.
The SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane takes place on 3 August 2019, 14:00 at SuperSport Park Stadium in Centurion. Entry forms are still available at selected SPAR stores in Pretoria and online at sparladiestshwane.co.za
For more information and to stay on top of the latest race news, “Like” the SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane Facebook page or follow @SPARladiespta on Twitter.
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