“I am smart, I am blessed, I can do anything,” echoes in the hallways of the Ocean View Secondary School after Denver van den Bergh delivered a motivational recovery talk there.
Going to schools is part of the Community Outreach programmes his Serenity Strides Foundation runs. Literally runs. That’s what this man does. But not from his problems anymore. That he solidly faced five years ago.
Born and raised on the Cape Flats Denver didn’t think of addiction as a bad choice – but a natural escape.
“In the midst of gangs and bullying I dimmed my light. I started to pretend to be less clever: The start of a downward spiral.”
From downward spiral to Serenity Strides
Clearly seeing the connection between drinking, losing hope, gangsterism and gender based violence Denver now knows this addiction is not an individual struggle. “It weaves itself into daily life, fuelling anger into violent crime, family breakdown and gender-based violence. Women and children are the most vulnerable when alcohol and drugs makes its path of destruction through homes.”
Living inside that reality for 25 years, is what now makes Denver focus on the “boy child”.
But not only by digging trenches of truth in their minds, Serenity Strides also organises hikes and outings.
“We take kids out of their hectic day-to-day environment to give them some tranquility.”
From Addiction to Endurance
Recovery begins with one moment. Someone reaching out a hand, and a decision to take it. That moment changed everything for me. Step by step I began rebuilding: Returning to education, earning my degree, repairing relationships, and discovering something that would reshape my life completely – endurance running.
“Running became more than a sport. It became a form of healing, discipline, and purpose. It gave me a way to transform pain into something meaningful.”
Last year, Denver’s foundation accomplished an astonishing feat. He ran approximately 1,680 kilometres from Cape Town to Durban, and then completed the Comrades Marathon.
Supporters tracked him on Strava seeing him smash marathon after marathon distance (and the blisters on his feet) each day. He didn’t do it for competition or personal achievement – but to raise awareness around addiction and gender-based violence.
The symbolic and intentional smile being traced by Denver’s runs. Image: Denver van den Bergh
From Recovery to Resilience
Now it seems that this extraordinary achievement was only priming his running engine. His next plan is to run from Cape Town to Namibia to complete the Desert Ultra Marathon. When tracing his previous route to Durban and adding this one a symbolic smile appears across South Africa. Symbolic and intentional.
Because a smile is what Denver and his foundation is aiming to spread every strides he takes.
Like at this weekend’s Two Oceans Marathon – which he did in a great time of 05:28.
Watch him getting ready here to run a smile up your face.
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