Daredevils, speedos, cancer awareness and a lot of fun – the Hollard Daredevil Run has become a ‘platform for good’ in the sports space that ticks a lot of boxes.
This year’s Hollard Daredevil Run, which took place on 30 September, saw men and boys stepping out of their comfort zones to “run cancer outta town”.
The much-loved Zoo Lake event was back after two years and saw over 2 500 runners participating. Over 268 other satellite events were scattered across South Africa.
“We were blown away by the support we received this year from around the country. The act of stripping down to nothing but a speedo may be daunting for runners, but the event is designed to challenge stereotypical male behaviour, which is what often stops men from tackling health issues,” says Heidi Brauer, Group Executive for Brand at Hollard. “The Daredevil Run asks South African men to confront male cancers head-on by showing that they’re not afraid to run in a speedo, not afraid to talk about cancer, and not afraid to get checked.”
Since it first started 13 years ago with a few brave souls running through peak hour traffic in Johannesburg to raise awareness about cancer, this event has become a nationwide phenomenon.
“Increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms of various cancers and offering advice on how to adopt a healthier lifestyle helps to empower men to take control of their own health, lower their risk of cancer and encourage earlier detection,” says Gerda Strauss, Head of Service Delivery for CANSA.
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“We can never do enough to ensure that every South African male over 40 fully understands what prostate cancer screening entails. These events are critical as they generate massive educational opportunities on a national level to educate men and boys about prostate and testicular cancer,” says Prostate Cancer Foundation CEO Andrew Oberholzer. “The fun element of running through the streets in a speedo helps to attract men who would not necessarily have participated in a pure ‘health education’ type of event. The balance between fun and education helps to reach a much broader spectrum of men.”
This year saw teams as far afield as Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, Sedgefield in the Western Cape and the Big Hole in Kimberley taking part. Mashamba in Limpopo, Motherwell in the Eastern Cape and Virginia in the Free State also saw their fair share of brave daredevils running five kilometres for this great cause.
The support from corporate South Africa this year also saw record numbers of teams entering. There was also a notable turn out by the youth, with high school war cries being heard around the country on event day. Male awareness needs to start at an early age, especially when it comes to testicular cancer, the most common cancer affecting young men between the ages of 15 and 35.
Hosting the Zoo Lake event, along with enabling men to run anywhere in South Africa, resulted in 2022 being the biggest and ‘ballsiest’ Hollard Daredevil Run to date. Proceeds estimated to exceed R800 000 will be presented in the coming months to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa.
Interestingly, the Hollard Daredevil Run is not a sponsorship as such, but rather a platform that is actually owned by Hollard.
“Each year we reach hundreds of thousands of eyeballs, initiate important awareness about prostate and testicular cancer, and donate all proceeds towards awareness and screening of these male cancers,” says Brauer. “By driving a message that these cancers can be beaten if caught early, we enable better futures not only for the men whose chances of survival are increased, but also for their families and loved ones.”
Plans for the Hollard Daredevil Run 2023 have already started. Interested participants are urged to follow ‘Daredevil Run’ on Facebook to be kept up to date with the event plans for next year.