Extra time
Bloemfontein Adventure racers tackle Comrades double─── 11:30 Fri, 22 May 2015
The originals - Adrian Saffy, Michael de Haast and Guy Allen.
Adventure racers; Mike de Haast, Laura de Haast, and Adrian Saffy have joined forces in association with the Lettie Love Fund, raising awareness and funds for breast cancer. By ‘upping the ante’ for cancer these adventurer’s will be taking part in some of South Africa’s iconic ultra-endurance events; namely the 210km” Double” Comrades marathon, and the 500km Expedition Africa, and all in honour of a dear friend, Caroline who is currently fighting the battle of breast cancer herself.
Husband and Wife duo; Mike and Laura de Haast will take on the challenge of completing the DOUBLE Comrades Marathon (200km), taking place later this month. The de Haast duo will begin their double Comrades journey from Pietermaritzburg early on Saturday morning, next weekend; running along the Duzi River valley; a prominent element of the Love Lettie Fund Valley Run event; having completed 112km once they reach Durban they will refuel and then run the official Comrades Marathon of 88km on Sunday the 31st of May!
“Our good friend ‘Lettie’ who passed away last year in June from breast cancer was such an inspiration to me, despite her illness, she was out there living life to the full. I have vitality and mobility - highlighting cancer by doing mad stuff is a blessing for me. Making a difference in people’s lives is one of my mantras. Doing it outdoors surrounded by nature is something we take for granted so for me doing stuff to change lives in an environment that I love is a blessing” says Mike de Haast of Pure Adventures.
Caroline was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago and was in remission until recently. Unfortunately the cancer is back, and the Pure Adventures team have therefore decided to take part in these crazy races in her honour.
“Challenging oneself to attempt to walk in the shoes of a cancer sufferer by doing something really hard which is demanding both physically and mentally for a few days is my motivation. Cancer patients suffer daily and the least we can do is highlight their plight and this dreaded disease by going outside the boundaries of normal to shine a spotlight on their world!” expresses Laura de Haast.
Adrian Saffy, co-owner of Pure Adventures will take part in this year’s Expedition Africa, an international 500km adventure race taking place in Swaziland from 6 to 15 June, to raise funds and awareness through sponsors and donors for the Lettie Love Fund. Here, their team of four will venture through the race carrying a life size pink cancer ribbon in aid of this cause for which they will be battling through mountains, rivers and trails.
“Your body slowly deteriorates on an expedition race, because you can't eat enough to recover the calories that you use. You are basically starving your body, and with the lack of sleep being a huge mental test; you start losing your ability to think and act rationally.
We chose this event (Expedition Africa) because it’s a sustained period of physical exertion and suffering that demands determination and fight to overcome tough realities. Similar to what cancer sufferers go through, except our team gets to go home afterwards, where we are pampered and recover, and those suffering from cancer continue their fight.” Says Adrian Saffy.
Support this dynamic team as they go “Crazy for Cancer” by donating via the ‘Givers Gain’ platform:
http://www.givengain.com/cause/6129/projects/15554/. Funds raised go towards the fight against Breast Cancer in association with the Lettie Love Fund.
