If you’re wondering why Adrian Saffy and his team, Castle Lite, are looking pretty with pink ‘accessories’ this year…
Adrian’s friend, Caroline, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago. She was in remission until recently. The cancer is back and her friends from Pure Adventures (organisers for Skyrun, 4Peaks and other events) have therefore decided to take part in these some ultra-endurance races in her honour.
Two weeks ago Michael and Laura de Haast ran a Comrades double – ‘down’ on the Saturday and ‘up’ with the annual Comrades Marathon on 1 June.
And now Adrian is carrying a large pink ribbon throughout this year’s Expedition Africa.
Their aim is to raise funds towards Caroline’s treatment in association with the Love Lettie Fund. Their other friend, Lettie Haynes, passed away last year after a long battle with cancer. They have raised R30,000 and aim to reach over R50 000.
Adrian and his Castle Lite team handed out small breast-cancer awareness ribbons at the opening ceremony.
“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,” says Adrian.
“We chose 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.”
Donations can be made online via the ‘givengain platform’ platform under the ‘The Lettie Love Fund’.
Content adapted from a release by Trystan Haynes.
Photos by Bruce Viaene.