Not just walking the talk, running it too

Helderberg firefighters Jermaine Carelse (second from left) and Renaldo Duncan (far right), and their Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) counterparts Liam Gannon and Steve Akester finished this past weekend’s Two Oceans half-marathon in just two hours and 46 minutes, to raise funds for the VWS. Sharing their reflections on the race, they darted from the starting line together and crossed the finish line together. It is a remarkable feat, considering the weight they were carrying, not to mention their modest aspiration to just “finish” the race before the cut-off time of three hours and 30 minutes. “We are all incredibly proud of these firefighters who have not just walked the talk, but run it too,” read a statement by the City of Cape Town. “They have once again shone a spotlight on the incredibly tough job that firefighting is, and what is required, but also the very good work that the VWS does alongside its City and TMNP counterparts each year to combat the many wildfires that Cape Town is prone to.” While the group has completed the mission, members of the public can still make donations to VWS to support their work and praise the runners for their heroism. Donations can be made directly through the VWS website, www.vws.org.za o