Inspired by a chance encounter during a race, Volunteer Wildfire Services member Renda Tshifularo took on the Two Oceans Half Marathon in full firefighting gear.
Cape Town, South Africa (30 April 2026) – On a race route in Cape Town, somewhere between all the fatigue and rhythm, Renda Tshifularo found himself running next to a man who would unknowingly motivate him.
It wasn’t planned, and at first, it didn’t seem significant. Renda was running casually, slightly late, easing into the race when he noticed another runner who immediately stood out. All in full firefighting gear.
“He was already in full firefighting gear. I remember thinking, this looks tough, how is he doing this?”
The runner had told his friends he would likely stop around the 10km mark of the 15km race. Renda assumed that would be the case.
“So I thought I’d just pace him, get him to 10km, and then we’d probably walk it out. But when we got there, he just kept going.”
That moment stayed with him.
“I realised I thought I was helping him, but actually he was the one pushing me. That was the shift for me.”
That experience eventually led him to Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), where he signed up after repeatedly trying to find a volunteer space that fit his life.
By profession, Renda is a software engineer based in Cape Town, working mostly remotely. While he had previously explored volunteer opportunities, many didn’t align with his schedule. VWS, however, felt different and sustainable. It also opened his eyes to a world he says he had been largely unaware of.
“I didn’t realise how busy emergency services are in Cape Town. Or how often fires actually happen. You start seeing the city differently.”
That awareness deepened during one of the region’s most demanding fire seasons in recent years, shaping his understanding of the importance of volunteer response teams and public support.
That perspective ultimately influenced his decision to take on the Sanlam Two Oceans Half Marathon by wearing full firefighting gear.
“It feels like you’re running wrapped in a wet towel that keeps soaking up more water. Eventually it’s like running inside a sauna.”
Despite the difficulty, Renda completed the 21km race, supported at different points by fellow firefighters who helped keep him going through the toughest sections.
This was not his first Two Oceans race (it was his ninth), but it was the first to carry this kind of meaning.
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