Domestic worker Veronica Mtetwa of Ballito had saved almost all the cash she needed to compete in the coming New York City Marathon when her mother was struck in the head by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve.
Smomo Nxumalo was watching TV in her home in Pongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal, when she was shot and left blind.
Mtetwa's dream of crossing the finish line in the Big Apple on November 5 began to slip away as she dealt with the medical costs.
The mother of three, who started pounding the pavements three years ago and completed two Comrades Marathons since, had to dip into her reserves to care for her mother.
Then hope came from a crowdfunding campaign started by her employer, Jody Cameron.
About R45,000 was raised and Mtetwa, 34, has New York in her sights again. She will step up training next month.
"Until three years ago I had not run a day in my life. In 2014 I watched the Comrades finish in Durban and something clicked inside my heart."
After training for nearly a year, hitting the road at 3am before tackling her household chores, Mtetwa completed her first Comrades in 2015 in over 11 hours. Last year she clocked nearly seven hours. This year, 17km from the end,LL she was forced to withdraw with severe cramps. A day later her father died.
"All runners have these moments but we pull ourselves up and grow from there," she said. "I am focusing on New York now."
Cameron said Mtetwa had inspired the family "to all be runners one day when we grow up".
Cameron, who will accompany Mtetwa to New York to support her along the route, now prepares the runner's dinners.
"Veronica is so strict with her diet, which is high protein and low carb. She takes care of breakfast and lunch. But at night I make her dinner. When it's close to the big races I do lots of carb-heavy meals, " said Cameron.
Mtetwa is excited about competing in an international race and taking her first trip out of South Africa.
"It's my dream to go overseas and to run. I heard about the New York Marathon during a charity run."
Mtetwa was exempted from paying the $2,500 (about R32,500) fee to a charity of her choice as part of the entry requirements. A South African who works for New York Road Runners, the organisers of the New York Marathon, donated her an entry ticket.
Mtetwa also has her mother's blessings.
"My mother is excited. My friends are happy for me, but they think I'm crazy. There are so many challenges ... the pain, the disappointments. But I will keep going."
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