Cape Town firefights run for the Volunteer Wildfire Services
The City of Cape Town firefighters are lacing up their running shoes for charity once more, in a bid to raise money for the Volunteer Wildfire Services.
According to the City, this year, the firefighters will be joined by a special Springbok guest, former hooker James Dalton.
The charity run during the Two Oceans Half Marathon began as light-hearted challenge back in 2017, and has now become an annual event to highlight the critical work of the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS).
City of Cape Town firefighters, Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan were the two original runners in the marathon, and last year, they were joined by two volunteer firefighters from VWS. This year, former Springbok James Dalton will be joining the fun.
“Running this race for VWS is a privilege,” Dalton said.
“These men and women put their lives on the line to protect our communities and the natural landscapes of the Western Cape, and they do it without hesitation. The least I can do is lace up my running shoes to help them secure the resources they need to keep fighting fires. If we can raise enough funds to purchase a new vehicle for their fleet, it will make a real difference in their ability to respond swiftly and effectively.” Dalton added.
What is the VWS about?
The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) has been on the front line, combating dangerous and sometimes deadly runaway wildfires since its inception during the devastating fires that ravaged Cape Town in 1999/2000.
“VWS is a registered NGO. We rely on public and corporate donations to cover essential operating costs such as fuel, vehicle maintenance, training, and personal protective equipment for our volunteer firefighters,” said Jenny Scheffers, Chief Marketing Officer at Volunteer Wildfire Services.
“At present, we have approximately 350 volunteers responding to fire calls whenever possible. It’s been yet another demanding fire season, and we’re not out of the woods yet. We hope that funds raised through this initiative will allow us to purchase at least one rugged terrain vehicle to get our firefighters to the front lines. If anyone feels inspired by our runners and the dedication of our firefighters, we encourage you to make a donation to help us continue our work.” Scheffers added.
The Two Oceans Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, 6 April.
Have you taken part in the Two Oceans Marathon or Half Marathon?
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