Firefighter guys with hearts for a worthy cause are back, gearing up for the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon, which takes place this coming weekend (Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 April).
They aim to raise much needed funds for the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), and this year they will be joined by former Springbok hooker James Dalton for the 21,1km run.
What started as a light-hearted challenge in 2017 has become an annual run to spotlight the critical work of the VWS. City of Cape Town firefighters Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan are at the heart of this fundraising initiative story – last year they were joined by two volunteer firefighters of VWS and are proud to have Dalton join the scrum this year.
“Running this race for VWS is a privilege,” the former Bok declared. “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.”
VWS is one of the organisations involved in protecting Cape Town from the devastating wildfires that characterise summer in the metropole. In recent years, that number has climbed steadily, with 9 498 non-structural fires recorded between October 2024 and 12 March 2025, compared to 9 135 in the same period the previous year.
“The partnerships we have with other firefighting entities like the VWS is critical to our efforts to protect Cape Town,” said JP Smith, Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security.
“The VWS runs on the generosity of donors and passion of the volunteer firefighters. Match that with the passion of our firefighting duo of Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan, and you have one of the most heart-warming initiatives that not only pays tribute to VWS and the work they do, but also fire safety awareness.”
This year, Carelse and Duncan will once again compete in the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon in their firefighting gear and self-containing breathing apparatus, which weighs an additional 10kg. They will be joined by VWS volunteer firefighters Liam Gannon and Thomas Lennon, with Dalton aiming to keep pace.
“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 VWS.
“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.
“Our vehicles are in desperate need of replacement. We hope 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.”
Donations to the VWS can be made directly via its website www.vws.org.za or through their social media pages, Volunteer Wildfire Services on Facebook and @vwsfires on Instagram.
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