Karline Botha will be stepping into the unknown when she takes part in the London Marathon for Herts MS Therapy Centre next April.
The former teacher’s family moved from Edinburgh to South Africa in the 1960s. Karline was raised on a farm near Johannesburg and later moved to Port Elizabeth with her husband Braam. Karline, 45, and her family moved back here ten years ago and now live in Bexhill in East Sussex.
“I was a teacher for 25 years and recently entered into full-time ministry as the family worker of Beulah Baptist Church. It is an amazing and rewarding vocation as I get to spend a lot of time in our local community working with families and young people trying to make a difference in their lives. I feel called to serve and give my heart to the families, youths and children in our community.”
Although she hasn’t run a marathon before Karline has completed a couple of Hastings half-marathons. She also runs for a local running club/charity called Running Space. “We run for life, helping people beat suicide. No one gets left behind and all are welcome.” Karline is also taking a course to become an England athletics coach so she can help younger athletes improve their mental health and well-being.”
Family is important too. Karline recently celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary to Braam. “He has recently started running with me too, so our dating has changed. It used to be meals out or drinks in the pub, but now we go running together!”
The couple have three boys: Chris 18, Braam 15 and Harry 10, as Karline explains: “All of them are sporty but young Harry is our runner.”
Several years ago Karline worked as a carer and looked after a lady with Multiple Sclerosis. “It was heartbreakingly hard to witness. I noticed that Herts MS Therapy Centre offer oxygen therapy to people with various ailments, including cancer and fibromyalgia. We’ve lost both my husband’s parents to cancer and a good friend of mine has fibromyalgia.
“My stepfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a few years ago and it is really difficult to witness how hard it is for him and my mum.”
To sponsor Karline, click on this link: https://tinyurl.com/brvse28f