Tessa Gough’s extraordinary journey through the Kalahari Desert was a marathon of courage and compassion, which saw her raise funds for period poverty; a pressing issue faced by countless women in our country.
Kalahari, South Africa (29 September 2024) – Tessa Gough is finally back from a strenuous week in the Kalahari, where she tackled a 250km marathon to raise funds for period poverty, a cause very close to her heart.
Tessa collaborated with the remarkable organisation Mama Flo, a charity dedicated to providing menstrual products and educational resources to women in Cape Town townships.
With an 8kg backpack filled with rice on her back, Tessa trained tirelessly, facing gruelling conditions and enduring immense physical and mental challenges leading up to the 250km Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon.
“I also trained on a farm in the Cederberg with a 500m dirt road that I used to cover over 120 km in three days. There was a lot of monotony and a lot of time to think,” Tessa reflects.
While training, Tess realised how important it was to have access to sports and movement in her life. She acknowledged that she had been privileged enough to train for this incredible adventure and saw the positive impact it had on her life and mental health.
“I wanted to give back to an organisation that would ensure all woman could have access to move their bodies in any way they wanted.”
She admits that taking on a 250km, seven-day, multi-stage, self-supported race through the Kalahari Desert seemed overwhelming and scared her to the core.
“But I’ve learnt that those are the best kinds of adventures!”
Tessa crossed the finish line at the Augrabies National Park on Friday, 20 September and covered 250 km over seven days. Each day was broken up into a different distance, with her longest day being 78km.
“The days went up to 40 degrees and the nights dropped down to 2 degrees. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the freezing nights, we didn’t have tents so I ended up sleeping in all my running clothes the single jacket I had and my emergency space blanket,” Tessa shares.
Tessa managed to raise R40,000 to provide reusable pads for girls, giving them the freedom to participate in sports and pursue their aspirations without having to worry about access to menstrual products.
Noting one of her greatest takeaways from the gruelling challenge, Tessa shared that she realised it was important to surround yourself with people who believe in you more than you believe in yourself.
“I learnt so much about myself and the importance of community during the race. There was something so empowering and beautiful about being able to be self-sufficient in such a harsh landscape, yet finding softness in those around you in a shared struggle.
“Running and movement has been the core of helping me through my own mental health struggles, it has given me purpose and an incredible community of supporters,” said the inspirational runner.
Sources: Tessa Gough
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