Hollard Daredevil Run kicks cancer out of hoods

The Hollard Daredevil Run has become a highly anticipated national awareness event and this year over 3000 men and boys participated; resulting in a purple haze of speedos on roads around the country that rivalled the blooming of the jacarandas. The 5km main run took place at Zoo Lake in Parkview on October 13 with other smaller runs elsewhere across the country.

The corporate relationship manager of the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), Joani Sadie said that they conducted free screenings during the run and achieved a record 43 screenings in two hours at one point during the day. She encouraged participants to visit the Cansa website and contact the nearest cancer care centre and find out when the next cancer screening clinic will be and take it from there.

Sharing how and when it all began, head of group marketing at Hollard, Warwick Bloom, said the Hollard Daredevil Run has become a nationwide phenomenon since it first started in 2009. “[We’re] raising eyebrows and raising awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. We set out this year to achieve the biggest and bravest run to date, and we have achieved just that. This run goes from strength to strength each year, and we cannot be prouder.”

Bloom said many men may be reluctant to talk about health issues or seek professional help. It is for this reason that cancer is often diagnosed later and perhaps at a more advanced stage. He said detecting and treating these cancers early means better outcomes for men and their families around the country.

All proceeds from the Hollard Daredevil Run went to Cansa and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa, to fund testing in under-resourced areas and increase awareness, support, and research.

Bloom thanked both Cansa and the Prostate Cancer Foundation for partnering with Daredevil for so many years.

Some facts shared about prostate and testicular cancer:

Prostate Cancer

• By 2030, prostate cancer is predicted to be the most common cancer in South Africa.
• One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
• Black African men have an estimated 60% higher risk of getting prostate cancer than any other race group.
• Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer are two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer themselves.
• The risk of prostate cancer begins to rise sharply after age 55 and peaks between the ages 70-74.
• Early diagnosis of prostate cancer can mean a 95% chance of being cured.
• A prostate-specific-antigen blood test at your health care practitioner can take a couple of seconds and can potentially save your life.
• African men and men who have a family history of prostate and/or breast cancer in a first-degree relative need to get screened annually from the age of 40. All men over the age of 45 need to be screened annually.
• According to Harvard Medical School, men who ejaculate 21 or more times a month have a 31% lower risk of prostate cancer.

Testicular Cancer

• While rare, testicular cancer is still the most common cancer affecting men between the ages of 15 and 35.
• The rate of men diagnosed with testicular cancer has doubled in the last 50 years.
• It is important for young men to start testicular self-examinations soon after puberty because early detection can save lives.
• The survival rate for men who are diagnosed and treated for early-stage testicular cancer can be as high as 98%.
• Men from the age of 15 to 49 years need to examine their testicles each month, preferably after a bath or shower, to feel for any pea-sized lumps that could indicate testicular cancer.
• Men with a family history such as a brother or father diagnosed with testicular cancer are at an increased risk.

Details: Cancer Association of South Africa www.cansa.org.za

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