A TRIBUTE to Riana van Niekerk

Legacies outlasting a life-time. On 14 February 2015 Riana van Niekerk joined the S4J team, saying that she would want to run the Comrades marathon as part of the S4J. This was shortly before she heard that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Although that prevented her in taking part as a runner in the Comrades marathon, she still helped as a mentor to some of the new S4J athletes like Marelize Nolan. Riana battled the cancer bravely until the day she passed on to greater glory on 13 February 2016. I took this picture of her after she won the Bronkhorstspruit 32 km race in a time of 2:18:02. She was a dear friend of fellow S4J athlete Isabel Esterhuysen. Sincere condolences to her family and friends.

When you hear the name Riana van Niekerk…..Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans Marathon, Om Die Dam Marathon and Loskop Marathon pops up, but for me Riana was the most humble person I knew. She will always have a huge place in my heart.

We were not running friends; she was too fast for me. We were inner soul friends that connected on a level that I can’t explain to anyone.

Riana was a normal person with hearts desires and dreams to reach just like all of us. She was just a fast runner - that was the only difference between us. We met on a regular basis during week-ends at Riana’s favourite place – “Mug and Bean”. She always ordered the same coffee, skinny cappuccino. There we spent hours of talking and chatting, making running plans and dreams come true. Her husband Allie joined us and then he slipped away….

Riana and her husband was staunch Blue Bull supporters. I was a Shark’s supporter. During weekends when the teams played we chatted and spent hours over the WhatsApp, supporting our teams, moaning and groaning if they were not performing at their best. Riana was always loyal to the Blue Bulls even when they didn’t have their best performance.

After last year’s Om die Dam Marathon on 22 March we chatted and Riana said that she had challenges with the water at the race. She told me her tummy ached. She said she would visit the doctor because she was afraid that it could be gallbladder stones. The next moment we talked about our meetings. Then she told me directly …she had cancer and it was a rare cancer. I was in shock and could not believe what she was telling me. She started with chemo immediately after she heard the news.

She responded well on the chemo and said to me she will do the Wings of Life World Race on the 3th May and not her favorite race Loskop 50km. Watch the video here. The race is ran for charity from more than 30 locations around the world, starting at the exact same moment. Riana came second on the race and not second for the day…second in the world for ladies athletes!!!  She donated her medal and Wings of Life Cap to me for all my support and motivation during her trials and tribulation. I was so proud of her for fighting back at the cancer!!!

Comrades come and she was not there. She and her husband escaped to a farm far away where nobody could get hold of her. It was a sad day for her. She phoned me and said …."Isabel you did not finished, are you okay”? I said to her “Riana my friend, I had a good Comrades up and till 60km and the then the plantar fascia "killed" me. I could not complete the race, so I was brave enough to stop. It was not the easiest decision to make at that stage but definitely the best.” We chatted for hours afterwards.

She spent hours and days at the doctor telling her what to eat and what to drink. All of this drove her “nuts”. In the end she could eat nothing without feeling sick. I said to her: "My friend, start eating ginger biscuits and drink Game". She took my advice and her condition seemed to improve somewhat.

Shame, I could see Riana was very ill and that the cancer was eating her up bit by bit. During all this time she always was so loyal, smiling and putting up the brave warrior face when I visited her at their house or in hospital.  For me it was hard to see her that way and fighting so hard to stay alive. During all that time she was positive and prayed often. She even prayed for me regularly for all of my own battles. She was the bravest person I knew and. Riana, I am so proud of you.

Thank you for letting me into your life and be part of the journey. It was a privilege for me and I always treasure that.

She was one of God’s favorites – I think somewhat like an angel (humanly speaking).

Though it’s hard to let you go in the Father's hand, we know that a LIFETIME’S not long enough for us to have lived as friends!!!

Friends are Friend forever.

Love you for always…….

Isabel