Through her 61-day run, Nita is raising awareness for dementia, breast cancer and CRPS while motivating countless others.
Pretoria, South Africa (16 September 2025) – Nita Avis, affectionately known as “The UniCorn” has transformed a life-changing challenge into a mission of hope and inspiration. Diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) nearly a decade ago, Nita lost the use of her leg and faced years of intense pain.
“It is the most painful disease in the world, and there’s no cure,” she explains.
For years, heavy medications were part of her daily routine, but eventually, she realised they were not helping.
“About four, five years ago, I decided enough is enough. And I got up and I started running.”
She turned her disability into a platform for good, using crutches to run and raise funds and awareness for various charities. What started as a small step soon became a daily ritual with the purpose of showing that limitations do not define a person.
The inspiration for her current month-long challenge came from a deeply personal place. Nita recounts seeing a friend’s month-long run on Facebook, dedicated to Dementia and Alzheimer’s awareness.
“My grandmother, which I love dearly and had a very big part of my life, has severe Alzheimer’s. Something just inside of me said, ‘this is a way to honour her, to go and do this and to get up.'”
What began as a modest and easy two-and-a-half-kilometre run has evolved into a regular 5 to 15 kilometres, with her eyes set on even greater goals. Nita is training for a half marathon in 2027 and plans to continue challenging herself in races alongside able-bodied runners.
“It is a challenge. It is a big challenge for me mentally. But I have to say 99% of the time, I have amazing support on the road with the able-bodied people. People that come past me and say ‘thank you for motivating me. I was on, I wanted to give up now, and because of you, I’m going to finish the race.’ And that’s what the UniCorn is all about.”
Her advice for others facing disabilities is that mindset is everything.
“You are more than that. It’s not your identity. And you can achieve whatever you put your mind to.”
Currently, Nita is on day 15 of a 61-day challenge. September is dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness, while October focuses on breast cancer. Following that, she plans to run for CRPS awareness and continue training for the Soweto Marathon 10K race. Nita shows that courage to redefine limits can inspire change and motivate others, one step at a time.
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