By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, Belgrave South café owner Rebecca (Bek) Hamer has overcome a life-threatening health scare to complete a marathon just two weeks after collapsing unexpectedly at her cafe.
The mother of four, the co-owner of White Wolf Cafe, was going about her usual workday when the unthinkable happened.
“I was feeling fine, just like any other day, then, suddenly, I lost the feeling in my legs. I couldn’t even get my arms to work to check my heart rate on my watch. It was terrifying,” she said.
A doctor who happened to be at the café that day quickly jumped into action, helping Bek get rushed to hospital under the assumption that she might have suffered a stroke.
As her condition worsened, with slurred speech and a complete loss of movement, Bek spent three days in hospital undergoing tests and scans, with doctors unable to pinpoint the cause of her symptoms.
Despite the unsettling uncertainty, Bek’s spirit remained unbroken.
“I was really frightened, not knowing if I’d ever walk again,” she said.
“But I had to trust that things would get better.”
Eventually, Bek began to regain movement, and though the doctors never found a clear explanation for her collapse, they speculated that a tick bite might have played a role.
By the end of her hospital stay, Bek was determined to get back to her normal life. But what happened next was even more extraordinary: just two weeks after her collapse, Bek was at the starting line of the Buffalo Stampede Marathon, ready to run.
Her family, understandably worried after what she had been through, tried to dissuade her from running.
“We said you can’t possibly think about running after what happened,” Bek’s grandmother, Barbara Pharaoh said.
But Bek, known for her stubborn determination, wouldn’t be stopped, she said “If I can use my legs, I’m going to use them.”
Running through the rugged mountains of Bright, Bek took on the marathon with a more cautious approach than usual.
“I didn’t push myself as hard as I would have if this hadn’t happened, but I was just so grateful to be there, I never thought I’d be able to do a marathon, especially after everything I went through,” she said.
Barbara, who watched her granddaughter’s journey closely, was in awe of Bek’s strength.
“We were quite worried because she was really very sick, but she did amazingly. She didn’t win, but just finishing was such an accomplishment, especially after what she’d been through,” she said.
Bek’s performance in the marathon was nothing short of inspiring. Although she didn’t finish near the top of the pack, the real triumph was her ability to stand at the start line after such a frightening and uncertain time.
Her children, Andrew, Phoenix, and Cirilla, also participated in the two-km race at the Buffalo Stampede Running Festival, with her, seven-year-old Phoenix finishing third overall in the two-km race.
Despite the odds, Bek’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength we all have inside us when faced with adversity. For Bek, it’s not just about the marathon – it’s about pushing through the fear and the doubts.
“If you have the use of your body, use it. You don’t know how lucky you are until something like this happens,” she said.
Now back at her cafe, Bek is more appreciative than ever of her health, her family, and her community.
“I’m so grateful for the support of my family and my business partner who kept everything going while I was off,” she said.
“It’s been tough, but I’m back to doing what I love. And I’ll never take my health for granted again.”
In the face of the unthinkable, Bek’s determination to not only recover but also run a marathon shows just how much can be achieved when we refuse to give up, no matter the challenge. She is truly an inspiration, reminding us all that we’re capable of far more than we think.
For Bek, the marathon was more than just a race – it was a victory over fear, a testament to resilience, and a celebration of life. And for the Belgrave South community, it’s a reminder that anything is possible when we back ourselves.
