A powerful life lesson and message of hope: Ghizela Vonica, former director of the History Museum in Sibiu, transformed her battle with cancer into a journey of strength, sport, and self-discovery.
Diagnosed in 2016 with stage III stomach cancer, Ghizela underwent major surgeries, losing her entire stomach and part of her intestines. But instead of giving up, she chose to fight back—through running.
“After my last chemo session, I told myself: no more illness. I want to run, to live,” she says.
And she did. In 2019, she joined her first mountain race in Italy. Soon after, she won silver at the World Championships in Switzerland. Today, she holds multiple national and international medals and was named “Sibiu Sports Ambassador” (2021) and “Best Masters Athlete” (2023).
In early 2024, Ghizela stepped down from her museum role to embrace a new life in France, working part-time at a high school through an Erasmus program. She now promotes healthy living, collaborates with local associations, and inspires others to rethink their lifestyle—with a daily routine rooted in sport, nutrition, and gratitude.
“Nature healed me. Now I want to help others discover that, too.”
Source: Sibiu County Council
