Firefighters help raise R230 000 for wildfire services in Two Oceans run

The City of Cape Town has announced that the 2025 Two Oceans Marathon charity has raised R230 000 in support of Volunteer Wildfire Services.

Apr 21, 2025 - 11:00
182113
Firefighters help raise R230 000 for wildfire services in Two Oceans run

The City of Cape Town has announced that the 2025 Two Oceans Marathon charity has raised R230 000 in support of Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS).

This contribution will assist in the replacement of a critical operational vehicle used in the region’s wildfire response efforts.

A dedicated team of City firefighters – Renaldo Duncan, Liam Gannon, Thomas Lennon, and former Springbok hooker James Dalton – took part in the event two weeks ago, representing a powerful commitment to both community and environmental safety.

This initiative, which began as a friendly challenge in 2017, has grown into an annual tradition that showcases the essential role of VWS in combating bushfires, particularly in light of increasingly severe fire seasons across the Western Cape.

‘Couldn’t have done it without you’

The City extended a special message of thanks to the participating runners and donors, saying: “A shout out to our runners, Jermaine Carelse, Renaldo Duncan, Liam Gannon, Thomas Lennon, and former Springbok, James Dalton! And a word of appreciation to all who donated to the cause, especially Santam for their generous R100 000 donation. We see you, we thank you, and we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Carelse and Duncan, longstanding champions of the initiative, once again completed the race in full firefighting gear, adding an additional 10kg to their run in a symbolic gesture of their frontline commitment.

The need for such support is underscored by recent fire statistics: Between October 2024 and 12 March 2025, the Western Cape recorded 9 498 non-structural fires, up from 9 135 the previous year.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, emphasised the value of collaboration in these efforts.

“The partnerships we have with other firefighting entities like VWS are critical to our efforts to protect Cape Town. The generosity shown by participants and donors this year ensures we can continue to equip our firefighting teams with the resources they need to face a growing threat.”

The City thanks all those who contributed to this year’s campaign and looks forward to continuing this impactful tradition in the years to come.

Did you spot the firefighters running this year’s Two Oceans Half Marathon?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1

Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

This article has been sourced from various publicly available news platforms around the world. All intellectual property rights remain with the original publishers and authors. Unshared News does not claim ownership of the content and provides it solely for informational and educational purposes voluntarily. If you are the rightful owner and believe this content has been used improperly, please contact us for prompt removal or correction.