Men and boys of all shapes and sizes are getting ready to sport nothing but a purple Speedo and a ‘ballsy’ attitude for the annual 2016 Hollard Daredevil Run.
On 19 February 2016, males of all ages will be dared to “run cancer out of town” as they run through peak-hour traffic in their infamous purple Hollard Daredevil Speedos, to raise awareness of male cancers.
Kicking-off Daredevil 2016 is a brazen #DAREcember social media campaign that challenges the brave men of South Africa to strip down to their Speedos and perform a daring (not dangerous) stunt.
Darers must then share their brave acts on Daredevil’s official Twitter and Facebook page, with all entrants standing the chance to win exciting prizes. #DAREcember challenges participants to take testing and self-examinations seriously, and reminds everyone that it is far easier to don a Speedo and do something daring in public than it is to fight cancer.
Hollard hosts the annual Daredevil run to raise awareness of the most prevalent male cancers affecting South African men. As a way to encourage early detection, and to promote early detection through non-invasive screening options, registered Daredevils over the age of 40 qualify for free Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) screening tests. A simple prick to the finger is all it takes, and the test will be made available to all entrants during the collection of their “run packs”.
For the first time in Daredevil history, and to encourage men from all corners of South Africa to take charge of their health, the Hollard Daredevil Run will take place simultaneously at several venues across the country at 15h00 on 19 February 2016. All runs will be scheduled along a 5km route.
The Joburg run will start at the picturesque Zoo Lake, before winding its way through the leafy suburb of Saxonworld, to Hollard’s head office on the hills of Parktown, with the finish being back at the Zoo Lake Sports Club. Cape Town based Daredevils will start and finish their run at Mouille Point Lighthouse in Greenpoint. Satellite events will also be held in Durban, Nelspruit and George, with venues to be confirmed in early 2016.
All run proceeds go towards the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) PSA testing initiatives and Men’s Health programmes and other awareness programmes across South Africa, highlighting that preventative measures are key in the ongoing fight against male cancers.
Research shows that one in 27 men are affected by prostate cancer in South Africa, and while testicular cancer accounts for just one percent of all male cancers, it is the most common cancer affecting males between the ages of 15 and 39. But research also shows that early detection of these cancers can dramatically improve outcomes, with testicular cancer in particular having a 95% better treatment rate if it is picked up early enough.
“Cancer is a serious disease that affects over ten percent of South African men” says Heidi Brauer, Chief Marketing Officer at Hollard Insurance. “We are proud to host this daring event and know that we are having a significant impact in raising awareness of this disease in a way that is relevant to the men in our lives.”
“By calling on men of all shapes and sizes, the Hollard Daredevil Run aims to support men to take cancer prevention seriously, spreading the message that self-examination is key to early detection, and that early detection can save lives,” Brauer concludes.
For more information on the 2016 Hollard Daredevil Run and how to sign up, visit www.daredevilrun.com, ‘like’ the Daredevil Run Facebook page, and follow @Daredevil_Run on Twitter for regular updates about the event.
Share your support by tweeting using the official hashtag, #DaredevilRun and tag @Daredevil_Run in your tweets.