Seven7 Drive against cancer takes to the road

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. A cross-country drive under the Seven7 Drive banner has been held to mark the event since 2015 and this year’s event takes place this week.

The Seven7 Drive, spearheaded by automotive journalist Danie Botha, aims to increase awareness about the benefits of early detection while delivering supplies to children in seven hospitals across SA.

South Korean automotive brand Kia, which has partnered with the Seven7 Drive since its first iteration in 2015 is participating in the ninth iteration of the drive. It will be joined by new partners Toyota SA, who will be participating with the new Hilux 48V hybrid double-cab, Stellantis SA in a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and Hyundai in a Venue Cargo.

The vehicles will be driven by Botha, Ziphorah Masethe of Ignition TV, former rally driver Hannes Grobler and ILS medic George Wright.

The drive will start at the Charlotte Maxeke hospital in Johannesburg on September 15, visiting medical facilities in Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, Gqeberha, Cape Town, Kimberley and Polokwane. It concludes on September 21 at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane.

The organisers say cancer is the second leading cause of death in children aged one to 14, and continues to rise globally. Many of SA’s academic hospitals have paediatric oncology units, but due to a continued lack of awareness about the benefits of early detection the survival rate among diagnosed cases remains low. 

“With the combined expertise of the new board, and support from the SA motoring industry, Seven7 Drive will be able to help more children, more regularly,” says Botha.

“As per Seven7 tradition we’ll be steering clear of main roads as best as we can, and stick to lesser driven routes. There have been reports about snow near Lesotho, so that could get interesting, especially in the front-wheel drive vehicles. But an adventure is not an adventure without a few stories to tell, so we are up for the challenge,” he says.

Several other sponsors have contributed to this year’s drive, including Freshive Digital, Ignition TV, Wilna Moolman and the community from Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape, and Road Lodge Kimberley.