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22 March 2024
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Firefighters Take on Two Oceans Marathon in full gear and then some!
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For the second year, two City of Cape Town firefighters will tough out the Totalsports Two Oceans Half-Marathon kitted-out in their firefighting gear to raise much needed funds for the Volunteer Wildfire Services, but this year, they are upping the ante! Running duo Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan will champion the province’s biggest running event on Sunday, 14 April 2024, with the hopes of crossing the finish-line in three hours and 30 minutes or less, whilst carrying their self-containing breathing apparatus (SCBA), which weighs an extra 10kg on their backs.
Carelse, who serves as Divisional Commander at Goodwood Fire Station and is known as the voice of the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, answered the call to save lives as a firefighter 23 years ago, after serving four years in the South African National Defence Force. Asked why he would endure another Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon to raise funds for the VWS, he says “We as firefighters are accustomed to challenges, albeit mountain, informal settlements, high rise building fires, etc. It tests our resolve and we only depart the scene when it's safe to do so. This fire season we responded to an unusual number of fires and at every mountain slope fires, VWS, was working with us side by side. I listened to an interview on Expresso the one morning where the gentleman went straight from his job, he is a teacher if I recall and fought the fire in Simon Town and straight from the fireline -a quick shower and back to his pupils.
This shows the dedication and ultimate sacrifice and this is why we love putting our bodies to the test and have a never say die attitude. This year we will be pushing the envelope, adding the SCBA set, an extra 10kgs.
With VWS turning 25 this year, it’s a special occasion and what better way to celebrate such a milestone than to do something remarkable, like running in fire gear with a SCBA set.
We are hopeful that the public will see our journey as a test of our resolve and donate for every kilometre we run. It will be tough, I myself, will have to train this time around.” The two heroes were recognised for their honourable and selfless act of raising funds for the VWS in 2023 by being jointly awarded the City Ambassador Award at the Annual City of Cape Town Awards ceremony held in December 2023.
Duncan has been with the City Fire and Rescue Service for 14 years and is currently based at the Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station.
Duncan explains why this challenge is close to his heart and one that he is eager to accept again, “As someone with a history of volunteering as a firefighter, I deeply understand the sacrifices made by these brave individuals on a daily basis. They courageously face the frontline, knowing they must return to their regular jobs the next day, or even later that same day. Behind them stand the supporters of organisations like VWS, who ensure these brave souls are trained and ready for action. It's because of this understanding that I accepted the challenge, not because I'm fearless but because I recognise that preparing for it will test me both mentally and physically. Typically, we only work with the breathing apparatus for about 20 minutes during emergencies but this upcoming race will extend that duration by about tenfold. It's a challenge I'm ready to face head-on.”
“Jermaine and Renaldo have generated such goodwill and positivity with this initiative and we are hoping for a similar outpouring of support this year. Cape Town has had one of the most extraordinary wildfire seasons in history and it has pushed firefighting agencies to the limit. We would have been far worse off without the members of the Volunteer Wildfire Services, working side by side with career firefighters on the frontline, to protect lives and property. The City is incredibly grateful to VWS and we’re immensely proud of Jermaine and Renaldo for their efforts to drum up support for the organisation. I am confident that Capetonians will throw their weight behind our firefighters, and VWS,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The running pair previously toughed out the challenge back in 2017 and 2023 and Carelse expressed having a good time with many people in awe at their amazing feat.
Duncan shared having upped his preparation game and eyes set on their improvement, especially with the SCBA being added to the mix. The only item of their attire that will not be firefighting gear are the running shoes they will be laced-up in. “VWS is a registered NGO and has to cover its operating costs purely from public and corporate donations. We are always extremely grateful for the assistance and up until now that has kept us going, we are wanting to do more but are limited by the increasing cost of our operations,” says VWS CEO, Claire Lötter.
“It costs around R7 500 to equip each volunteer firefighter with the basic PPE and then training costs over and above this. Volunteers then still need to purchase their own backpack, fire boots, water and nutrition that is needed while fighting fires. Our biggest expense at the moment though is our vehicles, with our oldest being a 28-year-old Land Rover people carrier.’ You’ll see our bright yellow vehicle running around the mountain during times of disaster, ferrying eight volunteers at a time. The cost of maintaining our aging fleet is draining our resources and we are desperately trying to reduce this burden.”
Lötter continues by saying “I am taken aback by the courageous feat of endurance undertaken by both firefighters and all of us at the VWS are deeply appreciative for the sentiment shared by our colleagues in the City who will be running this marathon again on our behalf to raise much needed funds. We will be there, both at the starting line and at the finish line to cheer them on.”
Donations to the VWS can be made directly via the website, https://vws.org.za/two-oceans-firefighters/ or through their social media pages.
As a registered NGO, the VWS are able to issue Section 18A certificates to corporates or individuals for tax purposes. These can be requested from [email protected].
Any corporates that are wanting to get involved can contact Jenny Scheffers directly via email: [email protected].
Website: www.vws.org.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerWildfireServices
Instagram: @vwsfires
Source: Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS)
Carelse, who serves as Divisional Commander at Goodwood Fire Station and is known as the voice of the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, answered the call to save lives as a firefighter 23 years ago, after serving four years in the South African National Defence Force. Asked why he would endure another Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon to raise funds for the VWS, he says “We as firefighters are accustomed to challenges, albeit mountain, informal settlements, high rise building fires, etc. It tests our resolve and we only depart the scene when it's safe to do so. This fire season we responded to an unusual number of fires and at every mountain slope fires, VWS, was working with us side by side. I listened to an interview on Expresso the one morning where the gentleman went straight from his job, he is a teacher if I recall and fought the fire in Simon Town and straight from the fireline -a quick shower and back to his pupils.
This shows the dedication and ultimate sacrifice and this is why we love putting our bodies to the test and have a never say die attitude. This year we will be pushing the envelope, adding the SCBA set, an extra 10kgs.
With VWS turning 25 this year, it’s a special occasion and what better way to celebrate such a milestone than to do something remarkable, like running in fire gear with a SCBA set.
We are hopeful that the public will see our journey as a test of our resolve and donate for every kilometre we run. It will be tough, I myself, will have to train this time around.” The two heroes were recognised for their honourable and selfless act of raising funds for the VWS in 2023 by being jointly awarded the City Ambassador Award at the Annual City of Cape Town Awards ceremony held in December 2023.
Duncan has been with the City Fire and Rescue Service for 14 years and is currently based at the Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station.
Duncan explains why this challenge is close to his heart and one that he is eager to accept again, “As someone with a history of volunteering as a firefighter, I deeply understand the sacrifices made by these brave individuals on a daily basis. They courageously face the frontline, knowing they must return to their regular jobs the next day, or even later that same day. Behind them stand the supporters of organisations like VWS, who ensure these brave souls are trained and ready for action. It's because of this understanding that I accepted the challenge, not because I'm fearless but because I recognise that preparing for it will test me both mentally and physically. Typically, we only work with the breathing apparatus for about 20 minutes during emergencies but this upcoming race will extend that duration by about tenfold. It's a challenge I'm ready to face head-on.”
“Jermaine and Renaldo have generated such goodwill and positivity with this initiative and we are hoping for a similar outpouring of support this year. Cape Town has had one of the most extraordinary wildfire seasons in history and it has pushed firefighting agencies to the limit. We would have been far worse off without the members of the Volunteer Wildfire Services, working side by side with career firefighters on the frontline, to protect lives and property. The City is incredibly grateful to VWS and we’re immensely proud of Jermaine and Renaldo for their efforts to drum up support for the organisation. I am confident that Capetonians will throw their weight behind our firefighters, and VWS,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The running pair previously toughed out the challenge back in 2017 and 2023 and Carelse expressed having a good time with many people in awe at their amazing feat.
Duncan shared having upped his preparation game and eyes set on their improvement, especially with the SCBA being added to the mix. The only item of their attire that will not be firefighting gear are the running shoes they will be laced-up in. “VWS is a registered NGO and has to cover its operating costs purely from public and corporate donations. We are always extremely grateful for the assistance and up until now that has kept us going, we are wanting to do more but are limited by the increasing cost of our operations,” says VWS CEO, Claire Lötter.
“It costs around R7 500 to equip each volunteer firefighter with the basic PPE and then training costs over and above this. Volunteers then still need to purchase their own backpack, fire boots, water and nutrition that is needed while fighting fires. Our biggest expense at the moment though is our vehicles, with our oldest being a 28-year-old Land Rover people carrier.’ You’ll see our bright yellow vehicle running around the mountain during times of disaster, ferrying eight volunteers at a time. The cost of maintaining our aging fleet is draining our resources and we are desperately trying to reduce this burden.”
Lötter continues by saying “I am taken aback by the courageous feat of endurance undertaken by both firefighters and all of us at the VWS are deeply appreciative for the sentiment shared by our colleagues in the City who will be running this marathon again on our behalf to raise much needed funds. We will be there, both at the starting line and at the finish line to cheer them on.”
Donations to the VWS can be made directly via the website, https://vws.org.za/two-oceans-firefighters/ or through their social media pages.
As a registered NGO, the VWS are able to issue Section 18A certificates to corporates or individuals for tax purposes. These can be requested from [email protected].
Any corporates that are wanting to get involved can contact Jenny Scheffers directly via email: [email protected].
Website: www.vws.org.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerWildfireServices
Instagram: @vwsfires
Source: Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS)
