Carla Felany, Running for Charity and Self-Discovery

Carla Felany has been running to raise funds to help people who need aid, especially orphaned children.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Carla Felany

For Carla Felany, 42, running is no just an activity for fitness, achievements or her personal existence. Since 2016, the runner born in Palembang, South Sumatra, has changed the meaning of running in her life so it is a manifestation of charity. She has been running to raise funds to help people who need aid, especially orphaned children.

A tall and stocky youth suddenly grabbed the microphone and shouted with joy. Carla and two others, a man and a teenager, tried to calm him down. The three displayed affection for the child that continued to scream into the microphone. He was Giorgio Pramudya Ludiro, 13, the second child of Carla and her husband Stevanus Pramono, 43, the man. The teenager was none other than Gerrard Pradipta Ludiro, 15, the couple’s first child.

The four were asked to come to the stage during the launch of Carla’s first book, titled Run for Charity: Menemukan Diri dengan Berlari (Run for Charity, Find Yourself Through Running), in a café at a shopping center in Central Jakarta on Sunday (10/7/2022). After the event, Carla said Giorgio was a special needs child who had autism.

“Having a child with special needs like Gio was my turning point to become engaged in charity runs. My experience in looking after Gio made it easier for me to become connected with providing aid for children,” said Carla.

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Eight years ago, Carla cried in her bedroom after returning from a hotel in North Jakarta, where Giorgio had been examined by a physiotherapist from Australia. She had received the news that Giorgio had been diagnosed with autism, and could not accept it.

As time went by, Carla became resigned to destiny. From her involvement with charity runs, she grew increasingly aware that Giorgio was extremely lucky. “With his limitations, Gio still enjoys loving care, attention and proper education from his parents. Out there, many children have lost their parents,” said Carla.

Beginning with diet

Carla has never been a professional athlete, although she is fond of sports as physical fitness. However, she has inherited the athletic traits of her late father, Sonny Tirta Gunawan, who was a swimming athlete of National Games (PON). Carla pursued physical exercises seriously after giving birth to Giorgio.

Because her body weight was not ideal, she followed a strict diet and exercise regimen for five years. Growing bored with this, she tried running to challenge herself, starting at the end of 2015.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Carla Felany with Kompas Daily Managing Editor Adi Prinantyo during the launch of Carla's first book entitled "Run for Charity, Menemukan Diri dengan Berlari (Finding Yourself Through Running)" in Central Jakarta, Sunday (10/7/2022).

Carla taught herself how to run. With her determination and intense curiosity, not long after she started training, she decided to take part in the 2XU Compression Run half-marathon, a 21-kilometer running tournament in BSD, Tangerang, Banten.

A year later in December 2016, Carla participated in her first charity run, the fourth edition of the 145K NusantaRun Cirebon-Purwokerto. The event aimed to raise funds for building a school in Purwokerto, Central Java. She finished the 72K Brebes-Purwokerto leg of the event in around 18 hours.

Carla’s original motivation for joining charity runs averaging more than a marathon, or over 42.195 kilometers, was to realize her goal of running across the country. Yet, she was moved on finishing the 72K NusantarRun Cirebon-Purwokerto.

Several hundred meters before the finish line, Carla was welcomed by the children who would receive the funds raised by the event. They held her hands and ran with her past the finish line. Afterward, they embraced one another.

“I was suddenly overwhelmed by a very deep emotion. Instead of a medal from the event, I cherished the children’s joy and happy smiles. It was a precious moment, it cannot be paid by any material means,” she recalled.

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After that first event, Carla became hooked on charity runs, with their tears and laughter. In six years, she took part in 14 events, from the 145K NusantaRun Chapter 4 Cirebon-Purwokerto in 2016 to the 150K Run to Care Kem(Bali) in November 2021. Her presence is noticeable from her tanned skin, with some parts sunburnt.

The longest route she ever completed was the Run to Care Meulaboh-Banda Aceh 250K in November 2019, which she finished in four days. “I’ve most often taken part in long runs organized by the SOS Children’s Villages [nonprofit organization] for children who have lost their parents,” she said.

Such events raise charity funds for various groups and purposes, such as orphans, education, health, equality for women and people with mental disorders (ODGJ). Runners often campaign to raise funds in person or through social media from around three months before to one month after an event. Afterwards, donors send their contributions to the relevant fundraising websites.

Running is just easier than asking for donations. It’s difficult to persuade people to provide aid.

Participants are not paid at all for campaigning. They even pay for their own registration, transportation, accommodation and meals to take part in the event. Each event raises between Rp 20 million and Rp 42 million from 70-120 donors.

“Running is just easier than asking for donations. It’s difficult to persuade people to provide aid,” she said.

Running hundreds of kilometers for dozens of hours or even days certainly causes physical and mental exhaustion. Not infrequently, Carla runs with an injury.

At the 155K Run to Care Larantuka-Maumere in January 2021, for instance, she ran during amid a rainstorm that caused blisters on her feet. But she continued to run, reaching the finish line after 37 hours.

“It even made me think, why such a huge struggle must be made. But I once stayed in Maumere for four days with the caregivers of the children who would be receiving the aid, and they were waiting for me at the finish line. That motivated me to try hard to finish my run. Actually, my feet were already a wreck,” she added.

Carla Felany

Born: Palembang, South Sumatra, 10 Feb. 1980

Achievements: Completing several marathon and ultramarathons, as well as dozens of trail runs since 2016.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.