While at the helm of the Root44 parkrun Torrin Theron-Visser organised and inspired many. She will continue to inspire long after her passing.
The 46-year-old Stellenbosch local joined the Root44 parkrun team in 2013, and she became a key part of the core volunteer group for eight and a half years.
Theron-Visser joined the local parkrun in May 2013, the third parkrun in the province at the time, where she soon became event director. However, her work wasn’t limited to the Boland and she went on to support the Western Cape teams as a regional ambassador for five years.
In an interview with Theron-Visser a few years ago she said seeing friendships being made “between people who would never have met otherwise and how happy they are to see each other every week as parkrun is now their common interest” was a highlight for her.
Despite the Root44 parkrun not restarting after the Covid-19 lockdown period, volunteers and runners shared memories and stories of their interactions with Theron-Visser following news of her death. Messages of condolences have come from near and far, including the United Kingdom and South Australia.
“I met Torrin Theron-Visser just once, exactly five years ago, as a visitor to your lovely parkrun from England,” Suzan Baker wrote on the Root44 parkrun’s Facebook page. “Sometimes in life just one meeting shows how warm and special a person’s character is, how deeply their community holds them and just how much they offer back to life. Torrin shone cheer, charm, kindness and joy to so many and this is incredibly sad news. Her loss will leave a huge hole in the hearts of many. I’m so sorry.”
Cheryl Cornelissen wrote: “Torrin, you finished the race, you kept good faith. Rest in eternal peace and rise again in glory. Condolences to Chris and the family.”
Many locals said Theron-Visser will be missed. She had 323 volunteer credits and 131 total parkruns under her belt.
Theron-Visser was diagnosed with cancer in October last year and was receiving treatment until last month.
“Torrin’s positive attitude and energy is something that I find truly inspiring. She had many challenges but she never backed down,” her husband Chris said.
He said her love for life showed through her contributions to the running community.
