Former Springbok James Dalton is set to lace up his boots and join firefighters as they embark on yet another charity half marathon to support the Volunteer Wildfire Services team!
Cape Town, South Africa (19 March 2025) — For the past several years, the City of Cape Town’s firefighters have taken on an ambitious feat: tackling the Two Oceans Half Marathon (21.1 kilometres) to support the Volunteer Wildfire Services team. Forget cool running gear designed for athleticism; these firefighters do their charity half marathon in their uniforms.
Firefighters Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan have long been the drivers of the charity half marathon.
A dynamic duo and crowd favourite, the two know what an important role the Volunteer Wildfire Services team play in Cape Town. So, why not give them a boost?
Last year, Jermaine and Renaldo added even more weight to the challenge by wearing extra fire gear and equipment that few marathon runners would dare consider hitting the road with. This year, they’ll arrive at the start line with the additional 10 kilos of weight (including a self-containing breath apparatus once again) and a new friend joining their pursuit: former Springbok hooker James Dalton!
“Running this race for [Volunteer Wildlife Services] is a privilege,” James said. “These men and women put their lives on the line to protect our communities and the natural landscapes of the Western Cape, and they do it without hesitation.
“The least I can do is lace up my running shoes to help them secure the resources they need to keep fighting fires. If we can raise enough funds to purchase a new vehicle for their fleet, it will make a real difference in their ability to respond swiftly and effectively.”
Especially as wildfires continue to increase, efforts like this help support the heroes keeping communities safe. There are 350 volunteers at present, and some will be joining Jermaine, Renaldo and James, including volunteers Liam Gannon and Thomas Lennon.
“Our vehicles are in desperate need of replacement. We hope that funds raised through this initiative will allow us to purchase at least one rugged terrain vehicle to get our firefighters to the front lines,” said Jenny Scheffers, Volunteer Wildfire Services Chief Marketing Officer.
“If anyone feels inspired by our runners and the dedication of our firefighters, we encourage you to make a donation to help us continue our work,” Jenny added.
You can support the charity half marathon’s efforts for the volunteers here.
by 