The backstory

The backstory

The Run for Rosa Foundation was created in memory of Stu Rayner’s late cousin Rosa Carlyle Mitchell who sadly passed away on her 21st birthday.

In 2017 Stu ran 10 marathons in 13 days to send a child (Melusi Mahlaba) through school. Stu started in Plettenberg Bay on the 16th of July (his birthday) and finished in Cape Town on the 28th of July 2017 (Rosa’s birthday) at the hotel where Rosa tragically lost her life.

Melusi is currently in Grade 11 and flourishing at Etham College. Thank you for all that supported this incredible initiative!

Purpose

Purpose

To empower individuals through running, fostering a community built on love, courage, independence, and mindfulness, while promoting positive change and embracing individuality in a world that often seeks to suppress it.

Vision

Vision

To create a world where every individual feels empowered to overcome challenges, pursue their dreams fearlessly, and make a positive impact in their communities.

Our values

Our values

01. Love for one another

We believe in fostering a supportive and inclusive community where
individuals uplift and encourage each other.

02. Courage in adversity

We encourage our members to embrace challenges with bravery and resilience, knowing that they have the strength to overcome any obstacle.

03. Limitless & fearlessly independent

We inspire individuals to break free from limitations, pursue their passions, and chart their own path in life.

04. Mindful healing

We promote mindfulness practices to nurture mental and emotional well-
being, helping individuals heal and thrive.

05. Creating positive change

We are committed to making a meaningful difference in the world by supporting causes and initiatives that uplift communities and promote social justice.

06. Embracing individuality and quirkiness

We celebrate diversity and uniqueness, encouraging individuals to embrace their authentic selves and express their quirks and eccentricities.

An honest message from
our founder, Stu Rayner

An honest message from our founder, Stu Rayner

I am on a relentless pursuit to make others happier in this world. I am eager for people to realise the countless opportunities in South Africa and to have a more positive outlook on life. I need South Africans to love who they are and not what society deems as acceptable. I want people to be themselves. Be weird and different, voice your opinion, challenge boundaries, its beautiful and needed in the world.

A big problem that I have had for most of my life is that I did not love who I was, and I did not respect myself. I listened to the constant outside noise and became someone who I was not. I overanalysed and overthought everything. This tied in with my obsessive-compulsive disorder led me to becoming anxious and depressed. For years and years, I beat myself up, I did not know who I was or what my purpose was in life. My life and mind were thrown into disarray. I needed help desperately, so I decided to see a therapist and life coach. My therapist and life coach will always have a special place in my heart as they guided me out of the turmoil I was in.

Through this process, I started to see the light that had been evading me for years and started becoming active. I realised the magnificent art of running. It was a way in which I could express to the world who I was and put my busy and negative mind at ease. I started to see running as a way in which I could heal myself, inspire others and create positive change in the world. I started to believe in my story, I started to believe in other people’s stories, I started to believe that I could not only transcend myself but have a positive impact in the world and the people that live in it.

By no means am I finished product. Perfect people do not exist, and I am very proud to say that I see a therapist every month to keep my life on track. I am proud to talk openly about my struggles from OCD and the anxiety and depression that it has caused me and by doing so hope to decay the stigma of seeking help to be seen as a form of weakness. I make mistakes all the time and I accept that I will continue to do so.

I am on a relentless pursuit to make others happier in this world. I am eager for people to realise the countless opportunities in South Africa and to have a more positive outlook on life. I need South Africans to love who they are and not what society deems as acceptable. I want people to be themselves. Be weird and different, voice your opinion, challenge boundaries, its beautiful and needed in the world.

A big problem that I have had for most of my life is that I did not love who I was, and I did not respect myself. I listened to the constant outside noise and became someone who I was not. I overanalysed and overthought everything. This tied in with my obsessive-compulsive disorder led me to becoming anxious and depressed. For years and years, I beat myself up, I did not know who I was or what my purpose was in life. My life and mind were thrown into disarray. I needed help desperately, so I decided to see a therapist and life coach. My therapist and life coach will always have a special place in my heart as they guided me out of the turmoil I was in.

Through this process, I started to see the light that had been evading me for years and started becoming active. I realised the magnificent art of running. It was a way in which I could express to the world who I was and put my busy and negative mind at ease. I started to see running as a way in which I could heal myself, inspire others and create positive change in the world. I started to believe in my story, I started to believe in other people’s stories, I started to believe that I could not only transcend myself but have a positive impact in the world and the people that live in it.

By no means am I finished product. Perfect people do not exist, and I am very proud to say that I see a therapist every month to keep my life on track. I am proud to talk openly about my struggles from OCD and the anxiety and depression that it has caused me and by doing so hope to decay the stigma of seeking help to be seen as a form of weakness. I make mistakes all the time and I accept that I will continue to do so.

An open word from our founder,  Stu Rayner

I am on the relentless pursuit to make others happier in this world. I am desperate to get people to realise the countless opportunities there are in South Africa and have a more positive outlook on life. I need South Africans to love who they are and not what society deems as acceptable. I want people to be themselves. Be ‘’weird’’ and different, voice your opinion, challenge boundaries, its beautiful and needed in the world.

A big problem that I have had for most of my life is that I did not love who I was, and I did not respect myself. I listened to the constant outside noise and became someone who I was not. I overanalysed and overthought everything. This tied in with my obsessive-compulsive disorder led me to becoming extremely anxious and depressed. For years and years, I beat myself up, I did not know who I was or what my purpose was in life. My life and mind were thrown into disarray. I needed help desperately, so I decided to see a therapist and life coach. My therapist and life coach will always have a special place in my heart as they guided me out of the turmoil, I was in.

Through this process, I started to see the light that had been evading me for years and started becoming active. I realised the magnificent art of running. It was a way in which I could express to the world who I was and put my busy and negative mind at ease. I started to see running as a way in which I could heal myself, inspire others and create positive change in the world. I started to believe in my story, I started to believe in other people’s stories, I started to believe that I could not only transcend myself but have a positive impact in the world and the people that live in it. By no means am I finished product.

Perfect people do not exist, and I am very proud to say that I see a therapist every month to keep my life on track. I am proud to talk openly about my struggles from OCD and the anxiety and depression that it has caused me and by doing so hope to decay the stigma of seeking help to be seen as a form of weakness. I make mistakes all the time and I accept that I will continue to do so.

In life we will always fall, sometimes fall more than we rise, but instead of having the mentality to fall backwards, fall forwards. Embrace and manage the struggle and control the mind.

Step by step, let exercise provide you with the air to your lungs and peace in your heart for you to see the incredible person you are.

You are not alone, we are here.