HARARE, Aug. 19 (NewsDay Live) — THE local fitness community will this Saturday host a fundraising run and aerobics event at Falcon Golf Club in Hatfield to raise money for renowned coach Callista “Callie” Sambaza, who has at times been unable to walk unaided because of a rare spinal condition.
Sambaza has six lumbar vertebrae instead of the usual five, an anatomical variation she discovered in 2003 after lifting two containers of water. She recovered within days and continued leading an active life through high school, adulthood and three pregnancies, while working as a fitness coach for years without major limitations.
But her condition deteriorated sharply this year.
Following an evening session at Falcon Golf Club in March, the pain returned and intensified through April and May before worsening dramatically in mid-June.
“By April and May, the discomfort had become more persistent,” Sambaza told NewsDay Sport.
“Then in mid-June, my back deteriorated dramatically. Sitting down, standing up and moving around became increasingly difficult.”
After returning from a summit in Zambia on June 18, the pain shifted to her central lower back and sacral area and began to radiate. She was repeatedly hospitalised for pain management before an MRI requested by her general practitioner led to a referral to a neurosurgeon.
“By then, the pain had become debilitating. There were times when I could not walk and literally had to crawl from my bed,” she said.
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“This is no longer occasional back pain that I can stretch, massage or medicate and continue working through.”
Sambaza also developed right-sided sciatica, with numbness and tingling affecting the leg she uses for driving, forcing her to stop driving.
She has stopped personal gym training and reduced physical demonstrations with clients, continuing only with group sessions at Falcon Golf Club.
“I would stand on the sidelines, instructing and demonstrating as much as my condition allowed. Even one hour of coaching could leave me needing to hurry home afterwards and rest,” she said.
Saturday’s fundraiser begins with registration at 5:30 a.m., followed by 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre runs and aerobics sessions featuring hilo, taebo, kata and zumba. A 9 a.m. session will explain Sambaza’s condition and the need for surgery.
Registration costs US$10, although higher contributions are welcome. T-shirts will be sold for US$12 and caps for US$5, while refreshments will start at US$1.
Proceeds will go towards surgery and post-operative costs, including medication, medical reviews, rehabilitation and time away from work.
“The urgency is that my condition has been deteriorating considerably, and the fundraising is intended to help make it possible for me to undergo surgery as soon as possible,” Sambaza said.
“Spinal surgery also requires a period of recovery and rehabilitation, which may take several weeks or even months.”
