Fourth-Year Participant
Philanthropist / Business Owner /Advocate for Youth Mental Health
I’m the first to admit I’m not a natural athlete. I’ve had more tumbles on my bike than I care to count — probably more than most toddlers learning to ride a pushbike. As a driven, A-type personality who is used to juggling a thousand things and doing them well, finding myself at the back of the peloton (or often behind it!) is deeply uncomfortable. But that discomfort is insignificant when compared to the daily, invisible battles faced by young people living with mental illness — and that is why I ride.
Mental health is deeply personal to me. My sister has lived with severe mental illness for most of her life and has attempted suicide several times. Despite the support of a loving family, she faces overwhelming internal battles every single day, often self-harming in an attempt to quiet the voices in her head. Her journey, like so many others, reflects the urgent need for greater awareness, compassion and support for those who struggle in silence.
Professionally, I run a marketing strategy and engagement consultancy, and I am also actively involved in philanthropy. I serve on the boards of several not-for-profit organisations in South Africa, focusing on ensuring children have access to education and helping women and families break the cycle of poverty. But the Hawaiian Ride for Youth is one of the causes closest to my heart — because mental illness does not discriminate, and because early intervention changes lives.
When I get on my bike — feeling awkward, out of my depth and pushing through physical and emotional discomfort — I ride with the hope of walking, even briefly, in the shoes of my sister and the many young people who wake up every day facing challenges far greater than my own.
I ride to raise critical funds for Youth Focus, to support vulnerable young people in their mental health journeys, and to help ensure that no young person feels alone in their darkest moments.
Together, I believe we can create hope, empower resilience and change lives.