\u201cOver the last 20 years I have run practically every day of my life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have completed hundreds of marathons and ultras, 15 Comrades and over 20 100-milers.<\/p>
\u201cOn this journey, I have met the most amazing people and running has been a source of pleasure, camaraderie and inspiration to me and I wanted to use my love of the sport to help others,\u201d said M\u00f6ller.<\/p>\n
M\u00f6ller said that she realised that she could train her body to run far.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does not take talent, it just takes hard work and a fair degree of stubbornness,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy three dogs accompany me on most of my runs and we encounter stray, hurt and abandoned animals all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo why not combine my love of running with my love of animals?<\/p>\n
\u201cA friend told me that if one feels blessed, one should pass those blessings on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why I started using ultra-distance running to raise money and awareness for animal rescue centres.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2013 I did my first fundraiser for domestic animal rescue and shelters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ran 322km in 42 hours – toughest thing I have ever done – but only raised R33 000.\u201d<\/p>\n From this the Ten10 was born in 2014.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ten10 was born out of a casual discussion amongst members of the Bedfordview Athletics Club.<\/p>\n \u201cThey convinced me that doing something involving Comrades would be the way to get more donations and exposure for animal welfare.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the assistance of my family and the Bedfordview Athletics Club team, Ten10 became a reality,\u201d M\u00f6ller said.<\/p>\n The Ten10 involves running 10 Comrades marathons in 10 days.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not allowed to run on the Comrades route, so we run 86 to 90kms a day in under 12 hours for nine days by running the scenic route from Johannesburg to Durban.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what a scenic, hilly route it is!<\/p>\n \u201cOn the tenth day, we join the 20 000 plus runners at the Comrades start line,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In 2014 M\u00f6ller raised R88 000, in 2015 R86 000 and in 2016 she had a sponsor for the first time, namely Bulldog Abrasives.<\/p>\n \u201cThey helped us by covering our operating costs so that we were not personally out of pocket, as in previous years.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir marketing of the event in the motor industry resulted in donations from the business sector.<\/p>\n \u201cWe doubled the money raised in 2015 and had over three tons of pet food donated.<\/p>\n \u201cHusky Purina donated about 2.2 tons and the remaining 800kg came from runners donating food,\u201d M\u00f6ller said.<\/p>\n This year M\u00f6ller will be raising more money for PETS (Pet Empowerment in Townships) to cover the astronomical vet bills incurred in the treatment of abused and neglected animals, as well as Underdogs, a Pretoria-based pit bull terrier rehabilitation centre.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also plan to get even more pet food to hand over to as many animal shelters as possible. \u201cBy doing so, shelters are given a reprieve, a short amount of time during which their fundamental need is met \u2013 food for the animals.<\/p>\n \u201cThat way we get to have a far reaching positive affect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n M\u00f6ller added that the response and support that they have had from the running community has been overwhelming.<\/p>\n Hazel is set to start her run on May 26 and will be ready to tackle the Comrades Marathon on June 4.<\/p>\n This year she will be running with Tumelo Mokobane.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Other articles you may be interested in:<\/p>\n Local ultra-marathon athlete to run in aid of animals<\/a><\/p>\n M\u00f6ller\u2019s great passion<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>, Leigh Hodgson (journalist)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or Puleng Sekabate\u00a0<\/span>pulengs@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2017\/05\/IEP_280417_071_08719-520x390.jpg\")
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