Get your speedos ready for a day of spreading awareness
PARKVIEW – The Hollard DareDevil Run is back and thousands of men are expected to don their purple speedos when the event takes place on 16 March at the Zoo Lake Sports Club.
The Hollard DareDevil Run, which has become a massive countrywide annual spectacle since its first official event in 2009, is back for a 10th time.
The event, which has been set for 16 March at Zoo Lake Sports Club, has attracted thousands of men in its previous nine editions and hopes to continue on its upward trajectory of reaching more people year on year.
Statistics compiled by the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) – whose main purpose it is to lead the fight against cancer in the country – suggests that South African men have a 1 in 27-lifetime risk for prostate cancer.
Some factors known to contribute to the susceptibility of the disease are age, in men older than 40, a family history of prostate cancer, a poor diet and a general lack of exercise. Cansa, however, encourages all men to have regular screenings, which encompass enormous benefits in terms of reducing the cancer risk, early detection and subsequent treatment.
“The DareDevil Run has had quite an impact, but more so in the central areas because the event is currently in major centres such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Pietermaritzburg,” said Michael Herbst, a health specialist at Cansa, speaking on the impact the race has had in the more developed communities.
“We don’t have the DareDevil Run in remote areas, which is a pity but one can understand why it isn’t run there since I don’t think there would be any spectators really.”
Herbst added that taking personal onus, notwithstanding the work his organisation has done in spreading prostate cancer awareness, has been his life’s handiwork. “I am responsible for spreading the gospel and spreading the news, and I think we’re doing well although we can maybe always do better.
“If we could get more towns, perhaps even some of the smaller towns to join in with Hollard and arrange a DareDevil Run in their town, even though it’s small and you only have 10 or 15 participants, it’s a start and it can always grow from there.”
Share your experience of participating in the DareDevil Run and how it’s had a positive impact by sending an email to tshepisom@caxton.co.za
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