On paper, Stylerunner co-founder Sali Stevanja has it all; a globally recognized active-wear e-tail business with her twin sister, Julie, an exuberant ten-year-old son, a looming wedding and an active, balanced lifestyle.
But this is only part of her Sali’s story.
Rewind to 2008, and the chapters were unfolding very differently. Sali was running on empty – at full throttle, around the clock. “I was out of kilter,” she reflects. “I was so focused on making money to maintain my party lifestyle, I existed on pre-packaged food and little sleep,” she admits. “It was a very shallow life…”
And one that was soon to be turned on its head. That same year – at the age of 27 and at the height of her fast-paced career in recruitment – Sali was diagnosed with breast cancer and thrust into seven relentless months of intense chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and the onset of post-menopause.
As unhealthy as her routine may have been prior to her diagnosis, her road to recovery proved debilitating – until she struck a balance, almost by accident. “I would undergo chemotherapy and walk back to work; it was chemo, work, chemo, work,” she reflects. “I was on really toxic chemo – the strongest – but exercise allowed me to stay sane.”
“Exercise became about mental health, and then so much more. My body was toxic from cancer, but I decided my mind didn’t have to be,” she muses of the “hidden blessing” she was faced with.
Now in remission, and planning her wedding on May 1, Sali is unflappably passionate about raising the profile of cancer research, and the spirits of sufferers and their supporters through the power of exercise.
Enter, ‘The March Charge”, a Cancer Council incentive encouraging people to run ‘further, faster, harder’ during the month of March. “It’s about doing your absolute best,” she says. “Whether that be running your first kilometer without stopping, or upping those five kilometers to ten by the end of the month.”
Based on the research showing that a healthy lifestyle can prevent 1/3 of cancers, The March Charge encourages people to take more steps – figuratively and literally – towards better health; something Sali knows all about.
“I would love to be able to run three kilometers’ a day, which is huge for me!” she enthuses. “I barely run that far in one week but I have my fiancé who is running with me and coaching me during March, so that will be super fun!” she giggles. “If in the final week I can run 5kms that would be huge – I will be popping bottles after that!”
Currently, Sali keeps active with Pilates, hot yoga, walking, chasing after her son, Simun “and tonight I’m doing pole dancing with some of our Stylerunner staff!” she laughs.
Today, within a Stylerunner staff of 24 and growing – it is compulsory for each staff member to jump into a mental health activity – whether it is trapeze, horse riding, manicures, or the evenings impending pole-dancing escapade – to maintain a healthy balance.
Sali admits that the success of Stylerunner with Julie can be linked back in part to her scare; “It’s one of the main reasons we started going to the gym more often and because of that we were looking for new and interesting gym gear that wasn’t easily accessible. It has taught us both that you only get one shot at this life so you need to live it by doing something you love.”
