The long-awaited Mandela Day Run on Sunday 12 July by Denver van der Bergh, an athlete and rehabilitated drug addict, was an overwhelming success — far beyond anything he could have imagined, he says.
Van der Bergh, who overcame his addiction with the help of the Ramot Treatment Centre for Substance Abuse in Parow, says his run around Rondebosch Common was in commemoration of late former President Nelson Mandela. He ran 27 laps, one for each of the 27 years Mandela was in prison, which equated to 67 km, the number of years he dedicated to the service of others.
The biggest highlight for him, he says, was that out of all 27 laps, he did not run a single lap alone, he says. “Friends, family, members of Celtic Harriers, runners from Khayelitsha Athletics, Langa Athletics, Recovery Walk Cape Town, and many others took turns joining me throughout the day. Young and old came together to share the journey, and that’s exactly what I had hoped the event would become.”
Challenge
Van der Bergh says the first 20 km flew by as he caught up with old friends, met new people, and listened to everyone’s stories. “Around the 50 km mark, though, it became incredibly tough. The heat started taking its toll, and running 67 km around the same flat loop is mentally challenging because you’re constantly using the same muscles.”
Then came the moment he’ll never forget. “I was relieved to hear I only had one lap left, only to discover there had been a miscalculation — it was actually two. It honestly felt like a punch to the stomach. But in many ways, that became the perfect metaphor for life. Sometimes life throws unexpected challenges your way, and all you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
My Celtic Harriers teammates, family, friends, and fellow runners rallied around me and joined me for those final two laps, he says. “They quite literally carried me to the finish, and that summed up everything Serenity Strides Foundation stands for: we are stronger together than we are alone,” he says.
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.
Van der Bergh says the event on Sunday was about far more than running. “It was about bringing people together, getting them outdoors, celebrating healthy living, and creating conversations around hope, recovery, and community. It was also my way of honouring Nelson Mandela’s legacy of service and encouraging more people to become positive leaders within their own communities.”
Support
He adds: “I’m incredibly grateful to all the organisations that made the day possible, including Falke South Africa, Top Events, The Silo Hotel, Bootlegger, Peninsula Beverages, Crocs, and many other generous sponsors who donated prizes and support.” He also thanked the individual running clubs for their support, and Ramot, Recovery Walk Cape Town and TSIBA Business School.
The run this weekend forms part of Van der Bergh’s preparation for his 2000 km challenge from Cape Town to Namibia in 2027. Furthermore, he is also trying to set a Guinness world record for the fastest journey from Cape Town to Cairo, Egypt at a later stage.
