Ballito resident Andrew Lusk is about to embark on a journey most would call impossible: running from Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town – a distance of over 600 kilometres – in just 10 days.
Averaging 60 kilometres a day, Andrew’s mission is more than a test of physical endurance; it’s a statement of purpose. He is running to raise awareness and funds to feed hungry children in South Africa, in partnership with Rise Against Hunger.
From restaurants to the road
For Andrew, running was not always a passion. Before the pandemic, he was immersed in the restaurant world, working front of house, in kitchens and enduring long hours. It was a life marked by isolation, alcohol abuse and an underlying search for meaning.
When the pandemic hit, Andrew’s carefully laid plans to open his own restaurant crumbled. Faced with uncertainty and depression, he found himself at a crossroads. That was when a small voice – which he calls a whisper – suggested he could run to Joburg. That spark ignited a fire that has taken him on journeys few would dare attempt.
The runs that changed everything
His first major run, from Durban to Johannesburg, took 26 days, with 10 days of running interspersed with rest and recovery.
“It was an emotional moment,” he says of accomplishing that first goal. Since then, Andrew has run from Durban to Cape Town, from Ficksburg to Cape Town, and even attempted the formidable return journey from Johannesburg to Durban – each run filled with near-death experiences, dehydration and moments of profound realisation.
He has faced the searing sun without sunblock, nearly collapsed from exhaustion and woken up in petrol station bathrooms, frozen and alone.
“There are moments where you’re just in survival mode,” he explains. “But then the sun comes up, and there’s hope all of a sudden.”
More than a run
His upcoming run, starting on 1 August, has a clear mission: to raise R100 000 to feed 400 children for a year through Rise Against Hunger.
“The whole run represents my personal journey in overcoming addiction, finding my purpose and seeing light in the darkness,” Andrew says. “I want to help others through my actions.”
This time, he’s not doing it alone. His wife, Delia, and their little girl, Hunter, will support him, along with his friend Jaeden Seth who will be seconding on a scooter with supplies. It’s a far cry from his earlier solo missions, with only a rucksack and a head full of doubts.
Running with purpose
Every kilometre of Andrew’s run will represent a child’s meal, a spark of hope and a reminder that change is possible – one step at a time. He hopes people will join him along the way, even for a few kilometres, to add their own footprints to this remarkable journey.
Details: IG: @andrewlusk033; www.riseagainsthunger.org
