Human Connection Carried Lodelia through 166 Gruelling Kilometres

The mother, healthcare professional and ultra-runner used one of South Africa’s toughest trail races to raise awareness for children affected by abuse. Cape Town, South Africa (03 June 2026)... The post Human Connection Carried Lodelia through 166 Gruelling Kilometres appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Jun 3, 2026 - 09:46 Updated: Jun 3, 2026 - 09:52

Human Connection Carried Lodelia through 166 Gruelling Kilometres

The mother, healthcare professional and ultra-runner used one of South Africa’s toughest trail races to raise awareness for children affected by abuse.

Cape Town, South Africa (03 June 2026) – When ultra-endurance runner Lodelia Kombrink crossed the finish line of the 166km MUT Miler, it was not the mountains, the exhaustion or the achievement that stood out most.

Instead, it was the people.

“The cheers and the motivation literally carry you to the finish line,” she says.

After days on the trails and countless kilometres through the Outeniqua Mountains, Lodelia found strength in the encouragement of strangers, the support of spectators and the smiling faces of children waiting near the finish.

Those children were never far from her thoughts.

Lodelia completed the gruelling challenge in support of Matla A Bana, a child protection organisation that works with children affected by abuse. When fatigue began to take hold after 117 kilometres, she says the cause became her driving force.

“I need to get it done for the kids. I started this thing. I can’t stop it now.”

A year after narrowly missing out on victory despite running faster than the existing course record, she returned to the Outeniqua Mountains to complete what she started. She crossed the line in 26:07:06, finishing as first woman and fourth overall, and ultimately breaking the women’s course record.

“I knew I had more in me, so this time it wasn’t just about the race. It was about going back, staying present, and doing it properly. Running for the kids just gave every difficult moment real meaning.”

As a mother and healthcare professional, the campaign is deeply personal. Through her work, she has seen the trauma many children face and believes communities have a responsibility to help create safer environments where young victims feel supported and heard.

Going home to her own family after witnessing some of these realities has only strengthened her determination to raise awareness.

“It breaks my heart. I go home to a loving family that’s protected and cared for, and then you see and read these things at work.”

While the fundraising campaign attached to the run continues, Lodelia believes the impact goes beyond any financial target.

“We are only getting started.”

Lodelia Kombrink — Photo Credit: Sandra Nieuwenhuizen

She hopes more South Africans will become involved in supporting vulnerable children, whether through donations, volunteering or simply being a trusted adult who helps a child take the first step towards reporting abuse.

For Lodelia, the race was about about using every kilometre to shine a light on a cause that is often closer to home than many people realise.

And when she looks back on one of the toughest challenges, it is not the distance she remembers most, but the power of people coming together for something bigger than themselves.