Matthew is Comrades runners’ muse
“It’s going to be great supporting the runners. I’m going to push them and help them. I think it’s also a great idea for creating awareness.”
TWENTY Yellowwood Park Park Athletics Club Comrades Marathon runners are dedicating this year’s run to a teenager suffering epilepsy.
Matthew Ferenćak is an inspiration to runners at YWP Athletics Club because of his positive attitude in fighting epilepsy.
On 15 November 2011, while playing a hockey match Matthew was hit on the forehead with a hockey stick. He underwent surgery and a titanium plate was placed into his forehead. Three months later, Matthew experienced seizures and was diagnosed with post traumatic epilepsy.
In August last year Matthew went to Cape Town to remove the part of his brain that affects his epilepsy. The courageous teenager was on the road to recovery, but the epilepsy ‘triggers’ have now moved to other parts of Matthew’s brain.
The 18-year-old’s mother Susan, father Gavin and step-father Fred Schoon have supported Matthew all the way through his illness. “Matthew is on five different epilepsy medications and suffers migraines that last up to eight days,” says Schoon.
YWP Athletics Club chairman Mike Sutton says the club has adopted the teen as its inspiration. “I didn’t have much focus for Comrades and the club is touched by Matthew’s positive attitude. He is the coolest person and we know that he goes through a rough time. Everyone at the club is excited,” said Sutton.
The club chairman says there is huge stigma attached to epilepsy. “Awareness is a big thing. We’ll be wearing T-shirts to help create awareness about epilepsy,” he said.
The club has adopted the slogan ‘Epilepsy Comrades, everyday’. “To wake up every day knowing you will have a seizure is daunting, just as Comrades can be daunting,” he said. On race day, Matthew will stand at the halfway mark and hand YWP runners a purple balloon. He will do this to spur them on. Runners will then release the balloon in awareness of epilepsy.
The St Barnabas pupil says he is looking forward to the Comrades. “It’s going to be great supporting the runners. I’m going to push them and help them. I think it’s also a great idea for creating awareness,” said Ferenćak.
