Press Release

Running for Change: How the Gugs Youth Day race is inspiring future lifesavers

As South Africa marks 50 years since the Soweto Uprising, the RCS Gugs Youth Day Race once again brought communities together to celebrate resilience, unity, and the power of young people to create change.

16/06/2026

This year, the Gugs Youth Day race partnered with DKMS Africa to raise awareness about blood cancer, blood disorders, and the need for more stem cell donors. For Dr Aubrey Shoko, Director of the RCS Gugulethu Athletics Club, the partnership was a natural fit.

“Youth Day is about honouring the courage and activism of the young people of 1976 who stood up for a better future. Our partnership with DKMS Africa was inspired by the opportunity to combine sport, community engagement, and health awareness.

“Blood cancer and other blood disorders affect many South Africans, yet awareness remains limited, particularly in underserved communities. By incorporating stem cell donor registration into the event, we created an opportunity for participants to potentially save lives while celebrating Youth Day.”

Ubuntu beyond the finish line

For over two decades, the Gugs Race has been about more than running. It has become a platform that brings together athletes, volunteers, families, and supporters around a shared purpose.

These values align closely with Ubuntu, the belief that our humanity is connected to the wellbeing of others.

“The young people of 1976 understood that progress required unity, courage, and shared purpose. Today, community initiatives such as the Gugs Race continue to demonstrate how people can work together to improve lives and build stronger communities,” explains Dr Shoko.

A Legacy of Leadership

As South Africa reflects on the legacy, Dr Shoko hopes young people remember that leadership is defined by action. “Every young person has the ability to lead through service, compassion, and integrity. Never underestimate the impact you can have,” he shares.

Whether crossing a finish line, volunteering in a community project, or registering as a stem cell donor, every action has the power to make a difference.

About DKMS

DKMS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. It was founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf and DKMS together with the organization’s over 1,200 employees and has since relentlessly pursued the aim of giving as many patients as possible a second chance at life. With over 13 million registered donors, DKMS has succeeded in doing this more than 115,000 times to date by providing blood stem cell donations to those in need. This accomplishment has led to DKMS becoming the global leader in the facilitation of unrelated blood stem cell transplants. The organization has offices in Germany, the US, Poland, the UK, Chile, India and South Africa.

DKMS is also heavily involved in the fields of medicine and science, with its own research unit focused on continually improving the survival and recovery rate of patients. In its high-performance laboratory, the DKMS Life Science Lab, the organization sets worldwide standards in the typing of potential blood stem cell donors.

DKMS Africa received its WMDA certification in 2025, cementing its position as South Africa’s biggest and most diverse stem cell donor registry.

For more information, go to https://www.dkms-africa.org