Brave men donning their purple speedos and running through the streets of Joburg during rush hour has not only raised many an eyebrow over the past 11 years but has also played an enormous role in raising awareness about male cancers.
The annual Hollard Daredevil Run sees thousands of Gauteng’s most daring males “running cancer outta town” in a 5km fun run that aims to save lives. While the topic of cancer is serious, the Daredevil Run uses much-needed humour to promote disease awareness. After all, checking your privates and getting your prostate checked puts the proverbial ball in your court when it comes to early cancer detection.
“The beauty of this event is that it challenges men to get out of their comfort zone – literally! It’s a platform to confront this disease head-on and show men that they can be ballsy about tackling prostate and testicular cancer,” says Heidi Brauer, Chief Marketing Officer at Hollard.
Proceeds from this event are donated to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and The Prostate Cancer Foundation, with PSA testing facilities available at the run each year. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by both cancerous and non-cancerous prostate tissue, with high PSA levels possibly indicating the presence of cancer*.
In fact, by the time last year’s run was completed, over 20,000 tests had been conducted over the previous five years of the Daredevil Run. Hundreds of abnormalities have been detected as a result, potentially helping to save the lives of hundreds of men.
Held annually in March, last year’s event took place just before Mzansi was plunged into lockdown. Given the current COVID-19 restrictions and the status of the pandemic, Hollard has announced that this year’s Daredevil Run will be rescheduled to September.
“Postponing our Daredevil Run means keeping us all safer. But this does not mean that our commitment to cancer awareness is postponed. And neither should yours be”, Brauer says.
Hollard is continuing with various Prostate and Testicular awareness campaigns in mainstream and social media.
“The survival rate in men whose prostate cancer is picked up early is 95%. We encourage men not to allow the current pandemic to prevent them from being tested,” Brauer says
While prostate cancer screening is important in men over the age of 40, testicular cancer can occur in teenagers and older men alike and is one of the more common cancers in younger men.
A testicular self-examination can play a vital part in catching this disease in its earliest stages.
So, diarise September for the next Daredevil Run. But until then, remember to show your man bits some love. Check your testicles and urge your brothers, boyfriends, sons, husbands and partners to man up and not put off getting their prostates checked.
Go to Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa and The Cancer Association of South Africa for more information.
Be first in line when entries open and get more information by following Daredevil Run on Facebook.
Reference* Men's Health article on CANSA.org
