Athletes and running enthusiasts can join the highly anticipated Mandela Day Run, set to take place on Sunday 12 July.

The 67 km run around Rondebosch Common is organised by Denver van der Bergh, an athlete and founder of the non-profit organisation Serenity Strides Foundation.

The event starts at 07:00 and finishes around 15:00.

Van der Bergh, a former drug addict who overcame his addiction with the help of the Ramot Treatment Centre for Substance Abuse in Parow, said the run is being held in commemoration of late former President Nelson Mandela. He will run 27 laps, one for each of the 27 years he was in prison. This equates to 67 km, the number of years Madiba dedicated to the service of others, Van der Bergh pointed out.

Interested people can either walk or run the 67 km run around the common in celebration of Mandela Day.

“As the day draws closer, the excitement is definitely building,” Van der Bergh said. “What started as a personal training run has grown into something much bigger than I had ever imagined. The support from my running club, Celtic Harriers, recovery organisations such as Ramot, The Silo Hotel, Recovery Walk Cape Town, the Tsiba Business School, local businesses, sponsors, friends, family and complete strangers has been overwhelming and incredibly humbling. This run is about far more than 67 km; it’s about proving that hope is stronger than addiction, that our past does not define our future, and together we really can make a difference in our communities. I can’t wait to share the day with everyone on Sunday.”

The run this weekend forms part of his preparation for his run from Cape Town to Namibia in 2027. Furthermore, Van der Bergh is also trying to set a Guinness world record for the fastest journey from Cape Town to Cairo, Egypt, at a later stage.

Support

He said he had received support from all over for the Mandela Day Run.

“The preparation for this run has been as much emotional as it has been physical. Every training run has reminded me of where I came from and why I’m doing this. What has amazed me most is how many people and organisations have rallied behind the vision. What started as a personal training run for my 2 000 km Cape Town-to-Namibia challenge has grown into a community movement. On Sunday we won’t just be celebrating Mandela’s legacy, but also hope, recovery and the incredible things that can happen when a community comes together with a common purpose.”

The Serenity Strides Foundation was started to help prevent addiction before it starts, and also supports recovery when it happens by inspiring hope through lived experience, mentorship, wellness and endurance running.

To donate to the cause or enter the Mandela Day Run or the competition in which prizes are up for grabs visit www.serenitystridesfoundation.org.

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