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The KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has applauded the growing support for the inaugural Prostate Cancer Awareness Run, saying the two-day event has already made a powerful impact in raising awareness and offering screening services for men across the province.
The second leg of the event took place on Saturday morning, with a larger crowd of participants completing the 30km stretch from Hillcrest to St Aidan’s Hospital in the Durban CBD. By 07:40, the first group of runners had crossed the finish line, cheered on by supporters and hospital staff.
Among the most celebrated arrivals was ultra-marathon star Bongumusa Mthembu, who, along with his team, crossed the finish line at 08:48 to loud applause. The festive atmosphere included giveaways, camaraderie, and the visible support of healthcare professionals and district management.
The run began earlier in the week with a 47km journey from Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg to Hlengisizwe Community Health Centre in Hammarsdale. During that leg, 74 men underwent prostate cancer screening, underscoring the event’s combination of physical endurance and vital health education.
Launching the initiative, MEC Simelane fired the starter pistol herself, later telling participants: “You are not alone. We run for those battling cancer, for those we’ve lost, for survivors, and for the next generation.”
The campaign was inspired by survivor Dumisani Pakkies, whose journey has encouraged hundreds of men to confront the disease. Simelane praised him for turning his personal struggle into a movement with “life-saving potential.”
“Dumisani Pakkies is not just a survivor; he is a symbol of resilience and hope. Through his courage, we are breaking the stigma and putting prostate cancer in the spotlight where it belongs,” she said.
Pakkies was joined on the run by his wife Mpume and nephew Lemar, who supported him throughout. He has expressed hopes of expanding the event into a multi-day, multi-site activation in partnership with the Department of Health and other healthcare organisations.
St Aidan’s Hospital, which hosted the finish line, provides urology services including screening, diagnosis, and treatment for prostate and other urological cancers.
Simelane also thanked sponsors, partners, and families for their role in ensuring the run’s success, urging loved ones to support men in seeking early detection and treatment.
“The Prostate Cancer Awareness Run is more than just a race—it is a movement to save lives,” she said.
