Prostate cancer survivor Thulani Sibisi invites men to Hollard Daredevil Run

According to research, prostate cancer is the most fatal cancer in men in the country, largely due to ongoing silence and lack of education on the disease and its detection or diagnosis.

Sibisi, founder of the Soweto Marathon and a prostate cancer survivor after being diagnosed back in 2012, has paid tribute to Hollard and those responsible for launching the Daredevil Run, which saw over 7 000 participants in 2024, as he called on more men to enter this year's 5km run/walk.

"You know for that particular person who came up with that vision and saying, 'Let's organise an event for men, and let them talk' and say, 'For us to get the men, we will get them into speedos – that's vision," said Sibisi.

"We were scared as men, we don't want to come and talk publicly, imagine wearing a speedo on the road and all that, but now it's behind our backs, if I may say that.

"People don't see when they were saying, 'Haai, me, wearing a speedo?' Everybody is so confident wearing that speedo, which talks to you as a man if you have symptoms or you are feeling you are isolated.

"Because if you have prostate cancer or symptoms, you are scared to talk and don't want to do the test, but this opens us up as men to go out and say, 'You know what, I will go and test and I will participate in this event, and also spread the message to other men.'

"It doesn't help to be quiet – be open, be transparent, talk about it, and that's what Daredevil Run and Hollard did, they gave us this opportunity and I say thank you very much, because I wouldn't have been able to talk to you if they didn't give us this opportunity.

"I've lived with prostate cancer for 13 years now, and I wonder if I didn't get the support I'm getting, if I would still have been alive. Thank you."

Hollard have set a lofty target of R2 million to raise for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, after R780 000 – later bumped up to R1 million – was raised from the 2024 Daredevil Run initiative across the country.

Prostate Cancer Foundation CEO Andrew Oberholzer explained how they are at the forefront of raising awareness among men in South Africa.

"PCA, together with CANSA, has been part of the Daredevil Run for a number of years now as one of the beneficiaries of this event," added Oberholzer.

"And it's been a fantastic opportunity for us not only for the funds raised, but also to talk about prostate cancer on national television and radio, and educate men about this disease, and particularly about the importance of age and risk appropriate screening."

This year's event is scheduled to take place on 31 October, with a physical event at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg, but virtual participation across the country is also encouraged – visit daredevilrun.com for more information.

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