A homegorwn hero
Gqeberha multi-sport champion Bruce Campbell has inspired thousands with the story of his life-long fight for survival against two rare and dangerous diseases.
Born in East London, one of four boys in an active, outdoorsy family, Campbell was struck by a deadly virus, Guillain-Barré syndrome, at the age of six. It left him paralysed and unable to breathe by himself.
He not only survived Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome, but thrived: the physical and mental shock to his system, and subsequent rehabilitation – which involved learning to crawl, walk, swim and run all over again – catapulted him into a love of all sport and challenging activity.
The Eastern Cape multi-sport champion, who owns Gqeberha-based Aspire LiveFit Coaching Academy, together with his wife, Tracey, embraced being alive by tackling a variety of disciplines.
He represented the Eastern Cape in swimming, water polo, mountain biking, triathlons and surfing, coming second in South Africa for the sport, first in lifesaving and winning both on-road and off-road triathlon championships. He later represented South Africa at the Cross Triathlon World Champs in Germany, placing seventh in the world.
Today, he is an award-winning national and international sports star: Aquabike SA Champ 2024, a repeat winner of the TransBaviaans 230km Mountain Biking Marathon, holds the Triathlon SA Champ Age Group 35 – 39 titles for 2022 and 2023, was Aquabike World Champ 2022 and currently reigns as Xterra SA Champ.
Rising to the challenge
After overcoming his health challenge, embracing a sporting lifestyle and matriculating from Woodridge College and Preparatory School, Campbell joined Nelson Mandela University – his family’s much-loved alma mater.
“I love the ocean, and the university’s proximity to it is incredible,” says Campbell. “Studying here allowed me the opportunity to go for a quick swim or surf during study breaks between lectures.
“I also have three brothers, and we had all planned on studying at Mandela University, so ‘keeping it in the family’ was also part of (my choice).”
While working as a teacher in 2015, Campbell fell ill again. He was diagnosed with Pompe Disease, which causes an abnormal accumulation of glycogen in the cells, damaging muscles and nerve cells.
He was advised to give up sport, as his body slowly weakened and broke down – including essential muscles, such as his heart and lungs.
The medication available for treatment was prohibitively expensive, but a chance encounter between Campbell’s cousin and a Rare Diseases South Africa representative gave him hope – Campbell’s medical aid would cover the treatment cost of R466 000 per month.
Campbell continues with the medication, which involves a bi-weekly intravenous drip, and has become an ambassador for Rare Diseases South Africa, raising awareness of the challenges faced by rare disease sufferers.
Ironman filmed a documentary about Campbell, and asked him to take part in this year’s championships, which saw him gain 83rd men’s place after completing an exhausting 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and a 42km run.
As an ambassador of Rare Diseases South Africa, Campbell has twice completed The Cape Epic mountain bike race, the Munga – the sport’s toughest, involving a 1100km slog from Bloemfontein to Cape Town non-stop - and Ironman, whose organisers also filmed a documentary about his fight against Pompe Disease.