VIDEO: Daredevil Phil does it for CANSA

A LOCAL ‘daredevil’ went to the extreme recently, to raise awareness for men’s cancer.

Phil Tomlinson, a great supporter of CANSA, was dared by CANSA staff at last year’s Hollard Daredevil Run to do something different to highlight men’s cancer, and so he did! Phil donned his purple speedo while in Switzerland this month, and went out in the snow and -7 degree weather, to show how far he would go to create awareness.

Phil’s adventure was captured on video. The looks on people’s faces as he ventured out in the cold with nothing on but a speedo, socks and tekkies, doing snow angels in the snow, were priceless.

This is not the first time Phil has dared to be different. Last year he ran through the Crescent Shopping Centre in his speedo at the Shavathon.

“This is something I can do as a commitment to highlight men’s health. Men always try be macho, they go running with no shirts on, but they need to show other people they are normal, and come down to earth, and do something like the Hollard Daredevil Run, wearing a speedo. Wearing a speedo is not the most gorgeous thing, but just go and have fun! Men need to start waking up and taking care of themselves,” he said.

Cara Noble from CANSA said the organisation has so few male volunteers. “I wish we had more! There is no shame attached to cancer, we are not ashamed that men get cancer, and that is why we host the Hollard Daredevil Run. It’s so good to have a man like Phil out there, doing these things to raise awareness. Let’s start talking. Men’s cancer is a reality, and we acknowledge and embrace men with cancer. Men don’t like to talk about cancer, there’s no platform to talk about it, and we use the media to get the message out there,” she said.

She urged men and boys of all ages to get involved in the Hollard Daredevil Run on Friday 19 February.

“It’s just 5km in a speedo, and we encourage men to take part for all the men in their family,” she said.

Each entrant will receive a free prostate screening, and Cara encourages entrants younger than 40 to ensure these are given to older family members.

“Every man over the age of 40 should have an annual PSA. It’s something that needs to be done. We will also be offering support and counselling on the day, and urge men suffering from cancer to go along. Don’t suffer alone,” she said.

This year’s Daredevil Run sets off from the Bike & Bean Cafe, with registration from 1.30pm.

Entry is R150. For more information and how to sign up, visit www.daredevilrun.com, or ‘like’ the Daredevil Run Facebook page.