Tag: charity event

Categories : CancerTags :

Heroes in Purple Speedos Raise R1 200 000

On By ModernMedia

Hollard Daredevil Run Hands over Funds Raised and Launches 2026 Campaign

Hollard has donated R1 200 000 to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, with every rand raised by the purple speedo-clad heroes who took part in the 2025 Daredevil Run. At the same event, the 2026 campaign was officially launched and South African men will be called upon to lace up, strip down and do it all again!

Seventeen years in and the Hollard Daredevil Run shows no signs of putting its trousers back on. Under this year’s tagline “Lekker Balls; Lekker Life”, the 2026 cheque handover and campaign launch took place today at Hollard Campus in Parktown, Johannesburg.

The R1.2 million raised in the 2025 Hollard Daredevil Run was formally handed over to CANSA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) to fund awareness campaigns, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening and patient support. “The Hollard Daredevil Run is an unforgettable experience that raises awareness in a fun, engaging manner and sparks dialogue about men’s health in a non-threatening way,” saysHazel Chimhandamba, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Hollard.

“In 2024, we raised R1 million, 100% of which went directly to supporting prostate and testicular cancer awareness programmes. We are incredibly grateful to every Daredevil who dared to run in a purple speedo. It takes a special kind of bravery to turn heads for something that truly matters. Because behind all the laughs is a very serious mission: getting more men to check in on their health and each other,” adds Hazel.

The stakes are real. Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in South African men. One in eight men is expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with Black African men facing a 60% higher risk than other population groups. South Africa’s mortality rate due to prostate cancer is particularly high, largely due to underscreening, sociocultural stigmas and lack of health education.

Testicular cancer, while less widespread, is most common in young men aged 15-49, affecting approximately 1 in every 250 males. When caught early, it is highly treatable. A two-minute self-examination can detect lumps, swelling, or changes early, that’s considerably less time than it takes to run 5km in a purple speedo and the payoff is just as big.

A simple Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test for men over 40 can detect elevated protein levels before a single symptom appears. “The Hollard Daredevil donation is the largest single donation the PCF receives each year,” says Andrew Oberholzer, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa. “The funds help PCF distribute accurate, multilingual educational material and keep free PSA screening programmes running nationwide.”

He goes on to say that the run has also contributed to the development of South Africa’s first comprehensive prostate cancer registry, launching in 2026, which will track incidence, treatment and outcomes. The campaign further funds PCF’s helpline and support networks for men and families navigating a diagnosis.

Lorraine Govender, National Manager: Health Programmes of CANSA states, “The Hollard Daredevil Run has become far more than a fundraising event – it’s helped build a national movement that encourages men to speak openly about their health and seek help sooner. We are incredibly grateful to Hollard and every participant whose courage and commitment enable CANSA to continue providing awareness, early detection, screening and support services to men across South Africa.”

The event returns to Zoo Lake in Johannesburg on Friday, 23 October at 3pm with participants elsewhere able to register and run in their own neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools or universities anywhere in the country.

Registrations for the 2026 Hollard Daredevil Run open from 1 July and tickets will be available from Ticketpro at R200, which includes the courier of a registration pack and a complimentary purple speedo.

For more information, go to www.hollard.co.za/daredevilrun.

Categories : General Interest Implants and ProsthesesTags :

Össur South Africa Launches 2026 ‘What’s Your Epic?’ Campaign

On By ModernMedia

Movement is a Right, not a Privilege

Inspiring South Africa to Support Mobility, Inclusion and the Power of Possibility

Össur South Africa‘s Team 1: Rentia Retief & Travis Warwick-Oliver

Össur South Africa is proud to announce the launch of the 2026 ‘What’s Your Epic?’ campaign, an initiative that champions one simple truth: everyone deserves the freedom to move. As the world turns its attention to the Cape Epic from 15 – 22 March 2026, Össur is once again harnessing this global stage to drive awareness, spark action, and rally support for mobility access across South Africa.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural campaign, Össur South Africa has entered three amputee teams into the 2026 Cape Epic, one of the world’s most iconic and demanding mountain biking events. These six remarkable riders embody grit, courage, and the unbreakable belief that mobility transforms lives. Their mission is bigger than the race: to unlock meaningful support and funding for three exceptional non-profit organisations: Jumping Kids, Zimele and Rejuvenate SA.

“Movement is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the few,” says Blignaut Knoetze, Managing Director of Össur South Africa. “Whether you’re an elite athlete, a child receiving their first prosthetic or an adult rebuilding independence; mobility unlocks dignity, participation, and potential. ‘What’s Your Epic?’ is our call to South Africa to stand with us in supporting organisations who make this freedom possible.”

The 2026 campaign aims to raise funds and awareness for four organisations driving mobility access and inclusion:

  • Jumping Kids: Providing quality prostheses, education access, and sport opportunities to children living with limb loss, giving them the tools to build confident, successful futures.
  • Rejuvenate SA: Founded on the belief that movement is a basic human right, Rejuvenate SA supplies mobility aids to those who cannot afford them, restoring dignity and independence.
  • Zimele: Meaning “independence” in Xhosa, Zimele supports adults with physical disabilities to regain control over their lives, reintegrate into society and build economic self-sufficiency.

Together, these six athletes across three teams are redefining what’s possible.

  • Team 1: Rentia Retief & Travis Warwick-Oliver

Rentia (33, Somerset West), an artist and amputee athlete, who survived a cycling accident in 2023. Her journey is a testament to courage and the belief that mobility is a right every person deserves. Partnering with her is Travis (32, Durban), founder of Rejuvenate SA, adaptive athlete, and two-time UTMB finisher who has transformed his own amputation into a mission to help others move freely and live without limitations.

  • Team 2: Mhlengi Gwala & Kean Dry

Mhlengi (34, Durban), an international para-triathlete and multiple African champion who continues to defy all odds after a 2018 attack that led to the amputation of his right leg. Riding alongside him is Kean (30, Cape Town), a dedicated endurance athlete and community motivator whose story of resilience inspires thousands to believe that adversity does not define possibility.

  • Team 3: Brian Style & Rudi Joubert

Brian (40, Springs), a passionate cyclist who has rebuilt his life through mountain biking, uses sport as a platform for giving back. He rides with Rudi (42, Secunda), a determined amputee athlete known for his positivity, teamwork, and commitment to raising funds for mobility solutions.

“These riders are not just racing, they are raising their voices for those who cannot and shining a spotlight on organisations that restore dignity, independence, and hope,” says Knoetze. Össur South Africa is inviting the public, corporates, partners, and communities to be part of this extraordinary movement. Whether through donations, corporate partnerships, fundraising initiatives, or simply sharing the message, every contribution helps someone stand, walk, run, play, work, or dream again.

“‘What’s Your Epic?’ is about pushing boundaries; not just on the bike, but in society,” adds Knoetze. “When we support mobility, we support access. We support inclusion. We support futures. We are asking South Africa to back our riders, our NPOs, and the belief that everyone deserves the freedom to move.”

Donate, fundraise, or get involved as an individual and/ or company. Your support can help someone take their first step, return to work, join a sport, or believe in possibility again.
Össur Donations, ABSA Bank, Account number: 4123 215 542, Branch code: 632005
Reference: company name and contact number

Please contact Amelda Potgieter (apotgieter@ossur.com) for more information and/ or Section 18A certificates.

This is more than a race. It’s a movement. What’s your Epic?

Categories : CancerTags :

Celebrate Christmas in July with PinkDrive

On By ModernMedia

Cold Nights, Warm Hearts, Festive Vibes – and Support for Early Detection

Think log fires, festive cheer, a three-course dinner and dancing to a live band – all wrapped up in the joy of giving. On Saturday, 5th July 2025, PinkDrive will host a Christmas in July dinner at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, a night of holiday cheer and hope in action: raising funds for a life-changing cause. And you’re invited.

PinkDrive is a non-profit (NPC) committed to prolonging lives through the early detection of gender-related cancers. It delivers essential health services to thousands of South Africans every year by bringing mobile mammography units directly to communities that need them most, from rural villages to peri-urban areas across the nine provinces. These trucks provide clinical breast exams, mammograms, pap smears, and PSA testing, helping to detect cancer early in areas where healthcare access is often limited or unavailable.

Like many non-profits, PinkDrive depends on the support of corporate partners, sponsors, government, and the public to sustain its vital work, among them, Lee-Chem Laboratories. “This is a cause that is close to our hearts,” says Bhavna Sanker, Marketing Manager at Lee-Chem Laboratories. “Each year, we proudly support PinkDrive through our Mandy’s brand sponsorship, focusing on spreading awareness, sharing survivor stories, and making sure people understand their healthcare options.”

As part of their continued support, every guest at the Christmas in July function will receive a goodie bag from Lee-Chem, filled with products from their Mandy’s brand. “We are truly honoured to have Lee-Chem and the Mandy’s brand as valued sponsors of our Christmas in July Dinner fundraiser,” comments Nelius du Preez, Operations Manager at PinkDrive NPC. “Their continued support, alongside our other generous sponsors, makes events like this possible and helps us not only raise vital funds but also amplify the message of early detection and health education across South Africa.”

The fundraiser will spotlight the resilience of breast cancer survivors, with Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, sharing her personal journey with cancer. PinkDrive CEO and Founder, Noelene Kotschan, a passionate advocate for early detection prolonging  lives, will also address guests, and your charming host for the evening? A dashing Mister Global SA finalist will take the mic as MC, steering the evening from heartfelt reflections to lively fundraising with raffles and auctions featuring holiday packages, original artworks, and other exclusive prizes.

“We call the event ‘a night of giving back’ because it is occasions like these that allow us to keep our mobile health units on the road, reaching men and women who might otherwise not have access to screening services,” says du Preez. “Together with compassionate partners like Lee-Chem, we are driving change and prolonging lives, one screening at a time. And we are grateful to every corporate and individual who supports the event by purchasing tickets,” he adds.

All proceeds from the evening will be ringfenced to build and operate a new mobile mammography unit, expanding PinkDrive’s reach to screen more South Africans and detect cancer early, when treatment is most effective. “We encourage the public to join us in this mission by purchasing tickets and supporting the evening’s fundraising efforts,” concludes Sanker.

Tickets for the Christmas in July dinner are R600 per person and available now at pinkdrive.org. Don’t miss this chance to dress up, give back, and help bring hope where it’s needed most.