Over 40 frontline workers from Groote Schuur Hospital turned the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon into a life-saving mission, participating in various races on Saturday 18 October to raise much-needed funds for vital equipment for the hospital’s new Emergency Centre.
The marathon weekend began on Saturday with a 10km Peace Run and four trail races of varying distances.
However, the main run 42.2km marathon scheduled for Sunday 19 October, was cancelled at the last minute due to strong winds that rendered the route and event infrastructure unsafe.
Despite the cancellation of the main race, the Groote Schuur team’s dedication and effort stood as a powerful symbol of resilience and purpose beyond the finish line.
The emergency centre is being built in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness and will serve as a critical hub for emergency and trauma care in the province.
The Groote Schuur Hospital Trust needs to raise R20 million to equip the centre with critical items such as ventilators, patient monitors, and ultrasound machines, stretchers, lighting, and rapid transfusion devices.
Among the runners were health-care professionals from Groote Schuur’s Trauma and Emergency units as well as colleagues from the Radiography Department, all running in support of the patients they serve daily.
Groote Schuur Hospital Trust executive director Kristy Evans said with the right equipment, teams can save more lives.
“Groote Schuur manages one of the highest trauma burdens in the world. The new facility will enable faster triage, diagnosis, and treatment for critically ill and injured patients, reducing preventable deaths and disability.” Evans said the Emergency Centre is not just a hospital upgrade but a “lifeline for Cape Town”.
“When road accidents, violent injuries, or medical emergencies occur, this is where patients come. The new Centre will ensure that they receive care in a modern, fully equipped space that matches the excellence and dedication of our clinical teams.”
Evans shared her motivation for taking part in the 5km race.
“We’re running to stand behind the people who stand in the gap between life and death every day – our emergency and trauma teams. This run is a way of turning that support into action and inviting the public to do the same,” explained Evans.
Groote Schuur’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Shaheem de Vries, completed the 5km race.
He said: “This race was special because I was running with a purpose. As a team this brought us together to do as much as we can to strengthen the services at the hospital.”
Nazlea Behardien, assistant director of diagnostic radiography, was one of eight radiographers who took part in the 10km peace race.
She explained that the goal was to raise much-needed funds to equip the new Emergency Centre with vital medical equipment, including monitoring devices and a defibrillator.
Behardien added that the funding would also support the establishment of a new Radiology Department, which would give patients access to essential imaging services such as Lodox, CT scans, ultrasound, and plain X-rays — all conveniently located within the new Emergency Centre.
Behardien expressed her gratitude to all donors for their support.
De Vries said delivering quality emergency care in a public health system requires more than dedication it “demands the right tools and equipment”.
“Our staff bring extraordinary commitment every day, and this campaign helps ensure they have the resources to match their skill and compassion.
Evans said every contribution, no matter the size, brings the hospital closer to equipping the Emergency Centre and strengthening public health care in the Western Cape.
To continue to support their campaign visit: https://www.gshtrust.co.za/
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