Annual Speedo-clad trot through traffic brings male cancer into light
Men, do you have a “guynae”?
You know, a doctor that you can go and see when you have a problem with your “down there” bits? Most men don’t, which is why the Hollard DareDevil Run is on a mission to change that.
In a campaign which is a buildup to the DareDevil run – an annual 5km run which men from across the country partake in wearing nothing but a purple Speedo in rush-hour traffic – it aims to raise awareness about testicular and prostate cancer.
Hollard spokesperson Warwick Bloom said this year the focus was on early detection, with South African men being urged to get checked out early to beat cancer.
Bloom said the run is being planned for March but the date is not yet fixed. Participating towns are also still being decided.
As part of the buildup, large billboards with tongue-incheek messages are going up around the country. “Keeping your boerie and eggs cancerfree”, hanging above Settler’s Way near Greenfields in East London, is one.
Proceeds of the run will be donated to the Cancer Association of SA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of SA.
“Women are quite comfortable talking about such issues but men are not,” he said.
“Men don’t even have a specialist doctor to speak about such issues with. That is why we came up with the concept of a ’guynea’. This doctor could be a general practitioner that men feel comfortable discussing anything with.”
To make this possible, Bloom said a number of doctors have come forward and volunteered themselves for the role.
“These are doctors from across the country and their names are available on the DareDevil website for men to choose from.”
With 4,000 men having taken part in this year’s run, Bloom said they hoped to make next year even bigger. “We want to spread the message that cancer can be beaten and that it can affect all men from all races.
“We want men to start checking themselves right now as early detection saves lives.”
We want men to check now as early detection saves lives