By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
JASMINA Pedic fought severe cramps and aching knees last Thursday to somehow finish a 95-kilometre run from Noble Park to San Remo in memory of her late father.
The 22 year old raised almost $6000 for Life Saving Victoria, as well as awareness about the dangers of rock-fishing, during the two-day endurance test.
Exactly seven years earlier, her father Rasim had drowned while rock-fishing with mates at the popular San Remo spot called the Punch Bowl.
Last Thursday was the first time Ms Pedic — and her run support crew of brother Mirza and mother Azra — had visited the spot.
An exhausted Ms Pedic said it was “tough and emotional for the family” to stand at the fateful rocks. Although the weather was calm, the spot’s hazards were obvious, she said.
The trek — equivalent to more than two marathons — proved harder than she imagined.
On the first day, she powered over 68 kilometres, starting at dawn and reaching Cranbourne before 9am.
As Ms Pedic barely hobbled over the final stage the next day, she felt like giving up but was spurred by the urgings of her brother and mother.
Her motivation for her awareness-raising run was simple: “I don’t want other people to go through what our family went through.”
Life Saving Victoria spokeswoman Jennifer Phillips said at a ceremony at the Punch Bowl that five rock-fishermen had drowned at the site since 2000. The victims tended to be men of a non-English-speaking background.
She said the LSV was working on a three-year campaign to raise the rock-fishing safety message, kick-started by Ms Pedic’s fundraising run.
“To lose a loved one to drowning is a tragedy that will last a lifetime for family and friends, and Jasmina’s effort to complete this run to commemorate her father has been incredibly brave.
“Jasmina’s motivation and dedication has been truly inspiring and has made a huge contribution.”
To donate to Ms Pedic’s run, go to give.everydayhero.com/au/jasminapedic.
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