Klerksdorp Midweek, Klerksdorp - The annual Hollard Daredevil Run has done it again - thousands of men around the country donned purple speedos to run 5km, raising vital awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. Runners also took to the streets in Potchefstroom, Rustenburg and Klerksdorp. This nationwide phenomenon, which first started 15 years ago, raises funds for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa to be used for testing in under-resourced areas and increase awareness, support and research.
The main event at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg saw over 3 000 men and boys participating, with satellite runs also taking place nationally.
This year, individuals, corporates, schools, tertiary educational institutions, sports clubs and communities stepped up once again for this worthy cause, with an estimated 6 000 runners registering countrywide.
From Cape Town, Plettenberg Bay and Bethlehem to Durban, Secunda, East London, Thohoyandou and Sedgefield, brave men took to the streets with a bold mission to raise awareness about the importance of screening and early detection. For the third consecutive year, game rangers took an even tougher stance by running through the Kruger National Park.
“Wearing a speedo in public requires courage, just as it takes courage to take charge of your health by getting regular screenings and staying informed. The Hollard Daredevil Run is dedicated to every man and boy in South Africa affected by cancer or looking to spread awareness,” says Allistair Khanyi, Head of Brand and Communications at Hollard.
Prostate cancer will affect one in six men in their lifetime, and by 2030, it is expected to be the most common cancer among men in South Africa. Black African men face a 60% higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to other population groups. The survival rate in men whose prostate cancer is detected early enough is 95%.
Although less common, testicular cancer remains the leading cancer among young men aged 15 to 35, impacting about 1 in 250 males. If treated early, the cure rate rises for testicular cancer can be as high as 98%.
