A DARING spirit and fierce longing to make an impactful awareness about prostate cancer.
This is what Hollard’s Daredevil Run wants to achieve. It calls on all men to have the guts to run in their purple branded speedos to raise awareness of the devilish impact the disease has on sufferers.
Bluff resident, Lawrence Chislett, is one such daredevil who has jumped at the opportunity to make a difference.
He challenges all men in the area to join him in the October afternoon run. Speaking to the SUN, the 61-year-old said there is only one message he wants to spread.
“To all cancer sufferers, survivors and remissions, this daredevil supports you,” he exclaimed.
He ran his first daredevil run in March 2015, which he was dared to.
“I don’t look back, I was glad to do it,” he said. “The speedo draws attention during the run. We stop to explain why and hand out relevant flyers.”
His motivator is a family friend, known to him as just Ivan, who died of prostate cancer. Lawrence describes him as a great fisherman, a friend to his father and an inspiration to all fishermen.
“I am looking for men to join me in the Hollard Daredevil Run from Ansteys Beach to Brighton Beach. This is for prostate cancer awareness. If at least five or more men join, the better. To all Bluff daredevils, join me if you dare,” he said.
Lawrence is keen on raising awareness of all cancer types. He volunteers at Shavathons held at the Pavilion every year and hands out flyers on prostate and testicular cancer in his speedo which draws attention. As an act of unity with sufferers, he shaves off every hair strand.
“I remove all the hair from my body from head to toe. This is to have the chemo-effect that cancer sufferers go through, so they don’t feel alone. When I did the cancer awareness at Piggly Wiggly in the Midlands in May this year, I took all the hair off my body. Not one strand of hair was left,” he said.
After the run, he hopes to form a circle with others in honour of those who lost their cancer battles.
“The significance of the circle at Ansteys Beach is in remembrance of those who fished and lost the fight to prostate and testicular cancer.
“We will form a circle around the paddling ponds to those who want to join us daredevils to remember their loved ones no matter the cause of death,” he added.
Runners can register online and will receive a couriered daredevil pack which includes a branded purple speedo, water bottle, purple mask, fundraising band, logistics for the day and important cancer awareness information.
Hollard encourages men to man up and run cancer out of their ‘hood’ wherever they are. Entries cost R160. All proceeds go to Cansa and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa.
To join Lawrence, call him on 078 642 8203. Alternatively, like the Daredevil Run on Facebook for event updates and details. Click here to register. Entries close on Friday, October 8.
