1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Lunch with Pippa Hudson on Cape Talk Join the conversation. Well, 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: with one big cycling event in the rear view mirror, 3 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: we have another one looming on the horizon all of 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: a sudden and oh gosh, I hope that the heat 5 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: we are expecting this week is going to work its 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: way out of the system by the time the ABSIR 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: Cape kicks off on Sunday at Mire and Dolwin Estate 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: in Durbanville, because the thought of tackling what these competitors 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: are going to tackle and throwing intense heat into the 10 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: mix is just excruciating for those who don't know. The 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: competitors in this year's epic will navigate a grueling seven 12 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: hundred and seven kilometer route with close to sixteen thousand 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: meters of climbing before they reach the finish instant and 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: bosh eight days later, and once again this year, there 15 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: will be a contingent of amputee riders taking place taking 16 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: part rather under the banner of What's Your Epic, It's 17 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: a campaign we told you about last year when it 18 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: had its first run, and it really is all about 19 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:02,319 Speaker 1: demonstrating how mobility support and access to prosthetic devices can 20 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:07,279 Speaker 1: transform people's lives and make almost anything possible, including taking 21 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: part in one of the world's toughest races after you 22 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: have lost a limb. And it's a huge pleasure to 23 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: have one of the six athletes with us in studio today. 24 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: Renscha Retief hails from Somerset West and she will be 25 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: paired with Travis Warwick Oliver, who we spoke to last year. 26 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: You may remember that conversation when the Wat's your Epic 27 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: was first launched. Rencher, it's great to have you with 28 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: us today. Welcome than here, and thanks for making time 29 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: to come through the Cape Town and into studio to 30 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: chat to us, because I know this is kind of 31 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: your week to catch your breath a little bit before 32 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: the big event starts, isn't it. 33 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's lovely to be indoors for a bit. 34 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: Better, Okay, Rencher. I mean this is all a quite 35 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: new story because it was only three years ago or 36 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: so that your life was changed by a cycling accident. 37 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: I understand you were very much an athlete before then. 38 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: Cycling wasn't your main sport. You were a runner and 39 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: a trail runner, is that correct? 40 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: I was on my mountain bike. I was actually collecting 41 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: a car and selembarsh and I rode on the trails 42 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: and a truck hit me from behind in the parking 43 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 2: lot sort of at my destination. So a complete freak accident. 44 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 2: It just shows it can happen to anyone any time. 45 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 2: You're not exempt from becoming an MPC. And for sure, 46 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: I mean, as you say, you had done everything right. 47 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: You'd stayed off, you'd been on the trails. It was 48 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 2: just literally at the very last couple of meters of 49 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: your journey that this happened to you. And I mean 50 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 2: you'd been living a very, very physically active life. You'd been, 51 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: as I said, a kill not just trail runner, but 52 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 2: an athlete through your school years as well. 53 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: And I mean, I don't want to spend too much 54 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: time dwelling on the accident. But that was March twenty 55 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: twenty three. How long was it until you were fitted 56 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: with a prosthetic. 57 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: Leik It was about four or five months, But I 58 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: had lots of medical complications. Everyone's journey is very different 59 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: as well. So I really got back to walking in 60 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: January twenty twenty four, without scratches and without pain. I 61 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 2: had my last surgery November twenty twenty three. So the 62 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: whole of twenty twenty three was just sort of trial 63 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 2: and error, and it does take time. Everyone's up as different. 64 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 2: Some people get back to things within a month or two, 65 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: so you can't really compare yourself to other people's journey, 66 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 2: but mine was quite long. 67 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: It's going to be so frustrating. And I'm thinking of somebody 68 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: coming from an athlete's perspective. So you've been used to 69 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: being on your feet, active all the time. Obviously you've 70 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: now got months in hospital, multiple surgeries to recover from 71 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: the frustration of losing your time outdoors and the sport 72 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: that you love doing. And then obviously compounded by the 73 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: fact that your life you've lost a limb that was 74 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: required for that sport. Did you know straight away when 75 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: the doctors told you you were going to lose that 76 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: leg Did you think immediately, I'm going to find a 77 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: way back into it, or did you have moments of 78 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: this is the end of my sport, my love of sport. 79 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: Sure, it's difficult, because you do you see sometimes you 80 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: see some examples of people in sport like Oscar for series, 81 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 2: for instance, with two blades, So you do have that example, 82 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: but that's always people competing on a very high level, 83 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: and I was never like a high competitive athlete. I 84 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: was just recreational athlete, and so I wasn't quite sure 85 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 2: how that would work. And also I just wanted my 86 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: life back. I just wanted to go return to what 87 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: I used to do, which I luckily were able to do. 88 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: But it's take a horvoyage to get there. Yeah, so 89 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: it I didn't quite know what I'm heading in suits. 90 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: It's like hearing the worst, but also hearing something you 91 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 2: never expect. You don't ever think growing up you'll lose 92 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: a limbs, so you don't kind of mentally know how 93 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 2: to prepare for that. 94 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: So if there even was a way to prepare for 95 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: them exactly, Yeah, you can't imagine what you've never known. Yeah, Nal, 96 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: you're an artist, I gather, so I mean I would imagine, 97 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: you know, gratitude that it wasn't your arms or your 98 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 1: hands that were impacted. But obviously to face that initial 99 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: will I be able to return to being active as 100 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: I love must have been so hard. Now, access to 101 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: prosthetics is one of the main reasons you're doing what 102 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: you're doing, And we'll talk a little bit more about 103 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: what the race is going to be like in a minute. 104 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: But the whole point of the What's Your Epic campaign 105 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: is to raise awareness around access to prosthetics and also 106 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: helped raise funds for organizations that make that possible for 107 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: those who aren't lucky enough to have access. What was 108 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: it like for you? Did you face obstacles in obtaining 109 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: a prosthetic device or were you lucky enough to be 110 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: able to say, this is what I need and this 111 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: is the route to get it. 112 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: I was quite lucky. I had a good medical aid, 113 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 2: so it was quite straightforward. And even for instance, my 114 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: blade wasn't covered by medical aid, but I had I 115 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,799 Speaker 2: had funds for kind of getting back on the leg literally, 116 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: But a lot of South Africans don't have that access, 117 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 2: and they don't have full medical aid and they don't have, 118 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 2: you know, financial fallbacks to get them where they want 119 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 2: to be. And mobility isn't just walking, it's it's kind 120 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: of a form of expression. So even as an artist, 121 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 2: I felt that movement is part of expression and it's 122 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: part of integrating yourself into society and going back to work. 123 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: So there's a whole lot of ripple effects that comes 124 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: with mobility and if you, you know, life is complicated 125 00:05:55,520 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 2: enough and if you if you sort of tired and 126 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 2: the most basic thing, then it just makes life even harder. 127 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: And it's snow. Movement and mobility isn't a believe, it's 128 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: sort of privilege, it's a right. And that's really what 129 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 2: this campaign is about. So the three MPOs we're working with, 130 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: it's a Melee and Rejuvenate Essay and Jumping Kids. They 131 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 2: really help people from the starts to get moving, get 132 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 2: that linkedincy back and kind of get them back into 133 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 2: society again. 134 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: I'm happy to say we've interviewed all three of those 135 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: organizations over the past few years on the show. So 136 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: I think listeners should have a good idea of how epic, 137 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: if I may borrow the phrase, the work is that 138 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: they are doing, because, as you say, it's something is 139 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: the simple ability to be able to navigate yourself from 140 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: one end of your home to the other, to make 141 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: a cup of tea, to pick up a paintbrush or 142 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: a book, or be able to get around at school. 143 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: These are things that you take for granted every day 144 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: until they are taken away from you and you have 145 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: to suddenly realize that everything in life has got to 146 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 1: be recalibated, and you've got to learn to do things 147 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,679 Speaker 1: a new way. And imagine having to face that challenge 148 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: enough without there and having the support of a prosthetic leg. 149 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: I mean, Raychard, do you want to I mean, you've 150 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: worked closely with these organizations and with this campaign to 151 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: have a sense of what it is like for someone 152 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: who doesn't have a prosthetic leg. What is the reality 153 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: for them which is different from yours. 154 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: I don't actually know too much because I was always 155 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 2: in that privileged position of having all those aides. But 156 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 2: I've heard of people my partner Travis Warrick Oliver, who 157 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 2: is also the founder of Rejuvenate Essay. He does a 158 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 2: lot of work in case It anywhere. It goes out 159 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: to rural places to help firstly what's needed and then 160 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: supply what is needed. And often you see people bringing 161 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: each other in wheelbarrow so they don't have a wheelchair, 162 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 2: so they just use a wheelbarrow whatever they can. So 163 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 2: it's a tough life and people crawling around. There's a 164 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 2: painting that I'm thinking of called Something Christina. It's a 165 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 2: nineteen fifty painting in America, and it's a lady crawling 166 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 2: back to her house in the field. She I don't 167 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 2: know what illness she had, and she basically lived in 168 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: the middle of nowhere, and her reality was crawling around 169 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: on the farm to work. And okay, that's how a 170 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 2: painting in the nineteen fifties, but that's kind of also 171 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 2: the reality for a lot of people. So it's a 172 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 2: hard life if you don't have proceetics. And also getting 173 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 2: a prosthetic isn't the end to it. So for instance, 174 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: I have to change my socket. That's now the part 175 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: that fits around my stump. I need to adjust that 176 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 2: quite regularly because your your stump changes as well as 177 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 2: you know, as your body change. If you think about 178 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 2: how you're closed and always fit well, that that happens 179 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 2: with your legs, and especially with children, they grow out 180 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: of their legs, so it's not a case of just 181 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: supplying legs to a child and then awful. Yeah, you 182 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 2: have to keep working with an impt and you know, 183 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 2: adjust things to you so that it actually works in 184 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 2: the long run, and that is sustainable. 185 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 1: Just for anybody who's coming into this conversation midway, the 186 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: voice you're listening to belongs to rencha RETIFU is from 187 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: sumrset West and is going to be at the start 188 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: line of the Upsacabe Epic comes Sunday at Merend del 189 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: Winer State. She is one of six ampute athletes taking 190 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 1: part in this year's epic and a campaign called What's 191 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: Your Epic that is being championed by Ostio South Africa, 192 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: who of course are involved in creating the prosthetics that 193 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: we're talking about. It's all about raising awareness of just 194 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: how utterly transformational access to prosthetic devices and to to 195 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:20,599 Speaker 1: mobility AIDS can be and helping to raise awareness and 196 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: funds for that. Now, several listeners asking the same question Renshaw, 197 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: do you have just one prosthetic leg? Do you have 198 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: to have a different one to ride on than you 199 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 1: used to walk on? 200 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 2: For example, I have one that's an active, active leg 201 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 2: even has my procetus was really amazing and she even 202 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: put a little alan key built into the second. But 203 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 2: the yeah, the one is an active leg. It's also 204 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 2: an a terror I think it's called so which is 205 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: kind of what you can run with it as well. 206 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 2: And then I have another one that's for high heels, 207 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 2: also an ASER product. You press a button and then 208 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 2: you can sort of adjust the height of the heel 209 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 2: because you never think of that if you if you 210 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: wear a prosthetic, you're in a constant ninety degree angle. 211 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 2: So you can't wear anything with a bit of a 212 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 2: heel because that pushes you forward. So I have one 213 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 2: the sort of addressing leg, and then I have a 214 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 2: running blade, so I essentially have three legs, which is 215 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 2: maybe an overkill, I think, but those ironically, those three 216 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 2: legs give me just like maybe a fraction of what 217 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 2: I used to be able to do with my with 218 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 2: my normal legs. So it's it's not just having one 219 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 2: leg that can do it all. You can't usually run 220 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: in a normal walking for stetic you need a running 221 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 2: blade for that. Yeah, So there's a lot of things 222 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 2: around prosthetics, and everyone's different as well. 223 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: Gosh, I mean what you've just said about, for example, 224 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: you can't just go up on tiptoes to grab a 225 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: jar from a top shelf in the kitchen, for example, 226 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: if if your leg is fixed in that degree. So 227 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: now let's talk about, I mean, what it's going to 228 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: take to cycle the epic, because if anybody who's ever 229 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: watched even five minutes of footage of the epic, you 230 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: will know how incredibly tough it is for somebody who's 231 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: riding on their own two feet. Now, Chel, how do 232 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: you have to adjust the way you run? I mean, 233 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: I know, I think last year was your first epic? 234 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: Is that correct? So you didn't do this as a 235 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: fully able bodied athlete before, so I know you can't 236 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 1: make a comparison there, But you were trail running and riding, 237 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: et cetera before your accident. So what changes in the 238 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: way you tackle a race like this? 239 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 2: Sure? Or A lot about it is just making sure 240 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 2: your stump is okay, because if you can't use your 241 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 2: processing your stump, then it's kind of game over to 242 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 2: your certain extent. So there's a lot of care going 243 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 2: into that. If you chafe, especially if you have open 244 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 2: wounds in your prosthetic or in your stump, that is 245 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 2: like a breeding ground for bacteria. So there's a lot 246 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 2: of focus on sort of stump care, if I can 247 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 2: put it that way, to make sure that that's okay. 248 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: And also just your power input is kind of imbalanced. 249 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 2: And also just in a general perspective, as an ampute, 250 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 2: you're often lopsided with your balance. You're more like sim 251 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 2: to be better on the one side than the other side, 252 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 2: So on a bicycle, that's also something to think of. 253 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 2: On a wide pack, I've noticed I'm like forty percent 254 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 2: strength on the one side and sixty on the other side, 255 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 2: which is I think quite high for most amputees. Some 256 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 2: are like twenty eight saving ty. So yeah, that is 257 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 2: also quite a thing because you don't have a carve 258 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 2: muscle because I'm a blowney ampute, which means it's my 259 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 2: leg is sort of often below the need. Luckily they'll 260 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 2: have a knee joint that makes it very difference here. 261 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 2: But yeah, if you don't have an ankle flexion that 262 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 2: does Yeah, it limits your power output a little bit. 263 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 2: But overall, I must say cycling is an amput is 264 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 2: probably one of the most comfortable sports. It's not a 265 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 2: high impactable on your stump. So for anyone who wants 266 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 2: to get back into movement, I highly recommend cycling and 267 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 2: apparently swimming. I'm a terrible swimmer, but swimming is also 268 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 2: really good. So you don't have to cycle the Epic 269 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 2: to get active again. And also this campaign isn't to 270 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 2: inspire other amputees to cycle the Epic. We really use 271 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 2: sport as a platform to show what is possible if 272 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 2: you have the right prothetics and just general care as 273 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,599 Speaker 2: a as a disabled person. Also to show that disability 274 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 2: is kind of normal. It's everywhere. It's not just a 275 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 2: few select people in hospital that's disabled. 276 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, it's such an important message that. I mean, eventually, 277 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: I love what you just said. 278 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 2: That. 279 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: It's not about saying, you know, look, you can cycle 280 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: the Epic because ninety nine percent of the people are 281 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: not ever going to cycle the Epic and ninety nine 282 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: percent of us on our own two legs are never 283 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: going to do that. It's about saying, don't let this 284 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 1: limit you. Don't let us mentally limit your your concept 285 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: of what might be possible in your life, which is 286 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: an incredibly powerful message, even to those who are still 287 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 1: standing on their own two legs. Keith is asking whether 288 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: the bike is the same ord you have to adapt 289 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: the bike at all for the race? 290 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 2: No, it's normal, normal bike. Yeah, deal suspension. I don't 291 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: know what else moore to say with the drop a post. 292 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: Okay, so let me go and let's talk a little 293 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: bit more about sort of maintenance. Do you have to 294 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: do maintenance on the leg itself throughout the race? I mean, 295 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 1: you've spoken about stumpcare, but I would imagine the leg 296 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: is taking a hammering over sixteen thousand meters of ascent. 297 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 2: So also has a lovely little attentive now and then 298 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: to make sure we're okay. So they've got all the 299 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 2: bolts and screws and things that if something goes wrong, 300 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 2: and the US is a slogan is also life without limitations. 301 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 2: You will say, Nana about living without lmitation. So yeah, 302 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 2: that we do have to make sure, you know, all 303 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 2: the screws are tightened literally, yeah, so things can go wrong. 304 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 2: And it also depends what type of attachment you use 305 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 2: on your legs. So I, for instance, have a what 306 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 2: do you call it, a suction device that keeps my 307 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 2: leg onto my prosthetic on my residual limb, where others 308 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 2: might have a pin thing where it's basically like a 309 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 2: pin that clicks it in. So we all have different gear, 310 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: and so we have a little formula one stop every 311 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: now and then to make sure all of our gears 312 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: okay because it does take a hammery, yeah for sure. 313 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: And I mean, let's talk about psychologically tackling this race, 314 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: because I mean you've you've done it once before, so 315 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: you know how tough it is. You're also I would 316 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: imagine carrying something of a way of expectation that you know, 317 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: I mean, the whole point of doing this is to say, 318 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: look at me, look what can be achieved. That of 319 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: course has the flippage that you must be desperately hoping 320 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: nothing goes wrong because you want people to see you 321 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: succeeding in the race. Do you feel a sort of 322 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: a pressure from that point a little bit? 323 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 2: Because you know, we're cycling for awareness and not for ourselves, 324 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 2: recycling to for sort of the whole disabled community, So 325 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: we do feel that a little bit. But just to 326 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 2: be realistic, I think the dropout rate for the CAPE 327 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: is like forty eight percent, so a lot of people 328 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 2: don't make it, and they're all able bodied. So yes, 329 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 2: there are some expectations to a certain extent, but I 330 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 2: don't think people would be disappointed or think, oh I 331 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 2: didn't have the right prosthetic gear or whatever. Yeah, I'd 332 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: like to finish it. I'm also realistic that things can 333 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 2: go wrong. Yeah. 334 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: On that note, I mean, especially given that you've done 335 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: it once before, what's the biggest worry when you line 336 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: up on Sunday? 337 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 2: Oh, I think the heat because your last year it 338 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 2: was really hot in Paul, but you can't expect anything 339 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: from else from Paul. Yeah, we're going to given to 340 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: Montaguese this year, so I'm just hoping that's kind of okay. 341 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 2: And another thing about heat with prosthetics is people don't 342 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 2: think about that, but you you don't have any place 343 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 2: for the spectacle in your in your sockets, so you 344 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 2: still you still have a bit of leg inside of 345 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 2: the prosthetic, and that partsil sweats and yeah, that can't 346 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 2: drain anywhere, so it becomes quite a messy situation. And 347 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 2: also you lose suction on your leg. So yeah, so 348 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 2: that's something you often struggle with us amputees is just 349 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 2: summer and heats and sweats and all of that. 350 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: Okay, So I mean I'm looking at the weather forecast 351 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: for this week in Cape Tard, which are somewhere between 352 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: thirty seven and forty degrees for the latter half of 353 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: the week, and I'm just thinking, hopefully that means the 354 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: system kind of burns itself out half the time you 355 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: line up on Sunday, you'll have a bit of reprieve. 356 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: But that's a big consideration somebody else just asking about 357 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: how you manage the sort of the ins and outs 358 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: of life in camp. It secure because it's not like 359 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: you've been put up in five star hotels in between. No, 360 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: we all are you. 361 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 2: We're not in those little tents. But if we were 362 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 2: in the tens, we could have just taken off our 363 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 2: legs and that would have made space. So we're staying 364 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 2: in lovely places with walls. 365 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: So if you're getting a night sleep at least in 366 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: between each of the stages, okay, and I mean okay, 367 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: so I've spoken about the biggest worry are being the heat. 368 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: What's your biggest hope or the thing you're most looking 369 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 1: forward to about about doing the epic? 370 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 2: Sure, it's really a lovely way to connect with people. 371 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 2: So and also to kind of show that it's normal 372 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 2: to I don't want to say it's normal to be disabled, 373 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 2: but it to normalizes it a little bit. And last 374 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: year we met other amputees that it wasn't even part 375 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 2: of the campaign that was also cycling. So it's it's 376 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 2: great to have a sense of community and also just 377 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 2: how beautiful our country in Cape Town is and to 378 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 2: be active and to celebrate movement and mobility. So it'd 379 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 2: be lovely if we can get more people who struggle 380 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 2: with mobility to get and really enjoy their body and 381 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 2: enjoy their environments, because the two go together. If you 382 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 2: if you struggle to just walk with you were in pain, 383 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 2: it's it's hard to then actually enjoy the beach. And 384 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 2: you know, simple things like that you don't think about 385 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 2: that you. 386 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: Take so for granted until they're taken from you. Well, 387 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: I mean, we wish you the best of Like somebody's 388 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: asking on the WhatsApp line, where's the best place to 389 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,239 Speaker 1: look out for you look at? The website has got 390 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: a great spectator guide. So if you just google Cape 391 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: apps a Cape epic or the actual address is epic 392 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: dash series dot com forward slash races forward slash Cape epic. 393 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 1: That's a mouth mouthful to write down and remember, Rather 394 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: just google Cape epic you'll easily find your way through 395 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: to the site and there is a spectator guide. But 396 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: what should they be looking out for? Are you in 397 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 1: branded or what. 398 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 2: In the Watch your epic blue and black ear And 399 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 2: if they want to donate, they can also go to 400 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 2: the user Watch your Epic page online and they can 401 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 2: donate there to the separate mp os Rejuvenate and As 402 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 2: Amelie and Jumping Jumping Kid. Yes, okay, so they can 403 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: either go directly to them or just EASi ats as 404 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: just go to the watch your Epic page online. But yeah, 405 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 2: we're all we're six mput's riding basically for the same course. 406 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 2: So we're we're three teams to write a petee. We 407 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 2: all have a lim missing, different size, different gear that 408 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 2: we use, but it all goes to the same courts. 409 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: Okay, So if you are going out to watch, please 410 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: give them an extra chair as they go past. But 411 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: more importantly, please consider donating to the campaign What's your Epic? 412 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: You can also I have a contact email address if 413 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: anybody would like to pleasure a substantial donation, shall we say, 414 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: and need some sort of red tape involved in that, 415 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: I will gladly connect you with Amelda at Ossa who 416 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: can help you with that. There are some tax certificates 417 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: available for donations, by the way, if that helps it all. 418 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: And most importantly, we wish all of the competitors a 419 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: safe and happy and enjoyable race. I don't have enjoyable throughout, 420 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: but I mean in absolute or of anybody who undertakes 421 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: this challenge, but especially to you doing it with the 422 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: lim missing. I think it's absolutely remarkable. And Rachel, thank 423 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: you so much for coming in to share the story 424 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: and inspire our audience today. 425 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 2: Thank you. Yeah, just a great perliciative be. 426 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: Here and all our best wishes and made be a 427 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: cool and yes at most alike breeze to keep you 428 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,959 Speaker 1: cool along the route the epkeepper kicking or for those 429 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: who are asking, on Sunday this weekend at Merendahl Wine 430 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: Estate in Durban