SIMPSON BAY—Koos de Klerk will be setting a personal goal for himself and a standard for all persons of reduced mobility when he takes on the Mount William leg, one of the three hardest legs, in Wednesday’s November 11 Around-the-Island Relay Race.
It will certainly be an inspiring feat, perhaps the most inspiring of the entire event. A top runner of the day before a stroke slowed him down five years ago, never-say-die Koos has never let the physical disability get him down and he remains as optimistic as ever.
He’s a member of NAPA AUTO PARTS Over 40s team captained by Dr. Grace Spencer who also has the MEDICO COSMETIC/ENSURE-sponsored Over 60s team under her direction. Both teams are regular stalwarts of the annual relay race.
“My goal is to be at the top of the hill in less than 50 minutes,” Koos declared. “I did a test run last Wednesday with the goal of under 60 minutes but completed it in 55, so I know I can do it under 50. The test went well, even with the traffic, but on St. Martin’s Day there won’t be any traffic.”
It will be the first time since the stroke that he’s participating in the relay. Last year he was off island.
“I had a good feeling about it after some training, and actually a hill is easier for me so I told Grace I would like to give it a go,” he added. “I will do it even better next year, before I get to the 60s category.”
According to Grace, once Koos celebrates reaching the summit he’ll be handed a cold Presidente and that will signal the drinking to start for the others.
“He’s so determined, a real warrior,” Grace said of Koos’s commitment.
The Over 40s team is dedicating their run to the late André Fresco and his name is emblazoned on their T-shirts.
The order of running from legs 1 to 10 is: Jerome Reltien, Grace Spencer (taking over Andre’s leg), Wayne Brook, Lavon Peters, Jules de Vries, Augusto Zamora Perez, Koos de Klerk, Jerome, Stéphane Pouchin, and Yeba.
As for the Over 60s outfit, this team deserves utmost respect as it continues to defy advancing age and various medical ailments. Two runners are fitted with pacemakers and one is in cancer treatment. Jose Clarke is the youngest at 63 and the oldest is Paul Steeman at 79. The combined age of the team is 697!
David Hilstrom’s dry sense of humour summed up the motivation of the team: “We’re just happy to be able to continue doing this and have fun while we are still in a vertical position.”
The runners in order of legs are: Valerie Kelleher, Paul Steeman, José Clarke, Arna Berg, Joe Naughton, Peter Rodenbaugh, Patrick Jacquemont, John Hodge, David Hilstrom, and Michael Ferrier.
