DJ runs Comrades for his mom

94.7 Highveld Stereo presenter, Brad Brown will be running his first Comrades Marathon at the end of May – and he’ll be running for his mother who passed away recently. 

Since last June, when Brad decided to run Comrades as a personal challenge, he has lost over 35kgs, but he’s also had to face another loss – the heartbreaking news that his mother had terminal breast cancer, which she succumbed to on Sunday morning.

So Brad will be running on 30^th May as part of the Comrades Marathon Association’s celebrity challenge and he has chosen to support the Pink Drive. The organization works towards breast cancer awareness and prevention, a cause very close to his heart. 

“I wanted to do something to make a difference to people fighting this horrible disease and also for the families of those who have lost a loved one to it,” said Brad. 

How to support Brad

There are a number of ways to support the Pink Drive through Brad’s run. The first is via the sms line that has been set up – and is already active. Anyone can sms ‘run’ to 42220 and R30 will be donated to the Pink Drive. 

The second initiative offers those who have lost someone dear to them to the disease to create their own tribute. The Comrades Marathon covers 89km between Pietermaritzburg and Durban and Brad will be running each kilometer for someone who is either battling the disease or in memory of someone who has lost that battle. 

Brad is looking for 89 individuals, families or businesses to sponsor each of these kilometers. “Maybe a colleague is battling with breast cancer and you want to pass a hat around the office and sponsor a kilometre then I’ll run it for them. Maybe you’ve lost your wife, mother, daughter or niece to breast cancer; I would love to run a kilometre in their memory,” he said. 

As part of the celebrity challenge, Brad will be running in Toyota’s colours and they have agreed to double every donation that Brad receives, making his goal of R89 000 look achievable. 

Brad has started the painful process of collecting 89 memories of his mother, which he is posting on his blog, www.bradbrown.co.za. He is offering the same opportunity to all sponsors: put together 89 treasured memories and he will include them on the site. 

Those interested in following Brad’s progress on the day can follow him on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/bradbrown947 as Brad will be Tweeting from the road – including photos and videos.

For more information or to donate, please e-mail 89memories@bradbrown.co.za.

(Press release, May 2010)