A race in support of cancer awareness, will see thousands of men in purple speedos take to the streets in a 5km run to raise awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. Known as the Hollard Daredevil Run, the event will take place on Friday, 30 September.
Although the event will be held at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg, men and boys from every corner of the country can participate in their own neighbourhoods. All proceeds will be going to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa.
CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa, Andrew Oberholzer said: “The Prostate Cancer Foundation has been one of the beneficiaries of the Hollard Daredevil Run since 2018. The latest projections show that prostate cancer will be the most common cancer in South Africa by 2030, so events that raise awareness about the disease are crucial. The Hollard Daredevil Run has become the leading event that focuses on male specific cancers.”
By entering the 2022 Daredevil Run, you can show that you care about the impact that prostate cancer has on society and help make a difference. The event also raises awareness about testicular cancer, the most common cancer affecting males between the ages of 15 and 35.
CANSA is another beneficiary of the Daredevil Run. Gerda Strauss, Head of Service Delivery for CANSA, said that because many men are reluctant to talk about health issues or seek professional help, cancer may be diagnosed later and perhaps at a more advanced stage. “Increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms of various cancers and offering advice on how to adopt a healthier lifestyle will help empower men to take control of their own health, lower their risk of cancer and encourage earlier detection,” she said.
Joani Sadie, Corporate Relationship Coordinator at CANSA said: “This year’s run marks the seventh year of CANSA and Hollard’s partnership, and through this partnership, we’ve empowered tens of thousands of men with education on early cancer signs and symptoms. With the CANSA Hollard ManVan, we’ve travelled thousands of kilometres to reach men in hard-to-reach and underserved communities, where they receive free cancer screenings and educational talks. Early detection and education save lives, and we can continue to raise awareness and offer lifesaving screenings through the support we receive from the Hollard Daredevil Run.”
Heidi Brauer, Chief Marketing Officer at Hollard said, the run has become a nationwide phenomenon since it first started in 2009, raising eyebrows and raising awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. “The act of stripping down to nothing but a speedo is not only challenging for runners, but also challenges stereotypes about male cancers. It takes courage to strip down to a speedo and run in public, but that’s the whole idea. Facing cancer also takes courage and expressing solidarity with those who are being challenged is a big part of what makes this run special,” said Brauer.
Participants must note that speedos are limited and entries close on 26 September. For more information, participants can visit the facebook page called Daredevil Run.
