More than 4,000 men run in Speedos to raise cancer awareness

More than 4,000 people gathered at Johannesburg’s Zoo Lake for the Hollard Dare Devil Run, the biggest turnout in the event’s 17-year history, to raise awareness of testicular and prostate cancer on Friday.

Participants wore purple Speedos to draw attention to men’s health and encourage conversations about cancer. Speaking to TimesLIVE, Adele Kriel, head of experiential marketing at Hollard South Africa, said the turnout showed how willing people were to support the cause.

We know men don’t easily talk about their health. And the objective of Dare Devil is to create awareness, to make sure that they feel comfortable talking about testicular and prostate cancer.

The Cancer Association of South Africa and the Prostate Cancer Foundation are beneficiaries of the initiative. Contributions raised through the campaign help the organisations spread awareness and educate communities, particularly those with limited access to health information.

Through the annual event, organisers hope to break down the stigma surrounding men’s health and encourage more men to seek information, speak openly about their concerns and have medical checks when needed.