Running With Heart: Armand Steyn’s First Comrades for CANSA

Some run for the challenge. Some run for the glory. Armand Steyn is running for something far greater—hope. This year, Armand is lacing up his running shoes and taking on the Comrades Marathon, not just as a personal milestone, but as a heartfelt mission to support those affected by cancer through CANSA.

With each stride, Armand carries the stories of loved ones, the spirit of resilience, and a whole lot of determination (plus a few energy gels, just in case). His journey is one of courage, inspiration, and compassion—and we’re honoured to share it with you.

Read on to discover what motivated Armand to run this event, how he’s preparing for the ultimate ultra, and why he believes that no one should face cancer alone:

“Comrades Marathon: The Ultimate Human Race. This year, the theme is “More than a race” —and for me, it truly is.

When I was young, I looked up to my dad who ran the Comrades Marathon, with one remarkable distinction: he did it as a blind runner 13 times! As a child, my siblings, my mom, and I would support him at his races, whether by travelling with him to the Comrades or cheering him on as he crossed the finish line on TV alongside his running partner. Watching him sparked something deep within me—a desire to one day follow in his footsteps and take on “The Ultimate Human Race” when I grow up. That time has finally come. I’m ready to take the baton and run this 90-kilometre race.

My mom was one of my dad’s greatest supporters—caring, loving, and steadfast as they faced life’s challenges together. In 2009, after many years in remission from her breast cancer diagnosis in 2000, she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given only 6 months to live. That marked the beginning of another kind of race in our family’s lives: her battle with cancer. My parents’ prayer was that my mom would live long enough to see me, their youngest child, start high school before she goes. They saw “every day as a grace and a gift from God”.

At first, as a child, I didn’t fully grasp what was happening. Gradually things changed. There were more doctor’s appointments and appearance changes. Yet she remained strong in faith and spirit, still raising us, helping us, and planting the seeds in our lives. This was until 2014 when her health started to deteriorate rapidly, and it took a huge toll on her body and us as a family. She could no longer do what she used to do, and it had a big psychological impact on me seeing the mother I’ve grown to love so much dying in front of my eyes. It was incredibly painful. In July 2015, she passed away. I was 15.

This year marks 10 years since my mom passed away. At her funeral, my dad said she “finished her race in life” to now be with God, as her faith is what kept her and all of us strong for so many years. In 2018, the seeds of faith that my mom and dad had planted over all those years germinated when I made the most important decision of my life: to give my life to Christ and follow the path He has for me at a CRC service. That moment defined my future.

Now, in 2025, I will be running the Comrades for the first time, and for me it’s truly ‘more than a race’.

I run in honour of my dad, Stefan Steyn—my hero—who ran his races blind and who has been a pillar of strength in our family, especially during those tough times.

I run in memory of my mom, Hanlie Steyn—who fought cancer in “faith, hope and love” while standing as a beacon of hope in many lives.

And I run for the glory of the one true God—who sent His Son to die on the cross for each one of us, to set us free from the pain and suffering of this life. By truly putting my faith in Jesus, I was set free. He kept my hope alive in times when I was deeply lost, depressed and hopeless. God restored what the enemy had stolen by blessing us with a new family, placing the right people in our lives and answering my parents’ prayer by sustaining my mom’s health until I was in high school, defying the medical odds.

For these reasons, I will run the Comrades marathon for the CANSA charity—to support other families and individuals who suffer from this terrible disease, and to contribute to research that improves cancer treatments and, one day, a cure. I take up the honour to raise awareness to fight cancer and the consequences of it on the survivors and their families and friends who fight this battle.

I am running for hope, knowing that God gives us the strength to overcome even the biggest challenges. The Comrades is a gruelling test of endurance and embodies what many go through with this sickness. It takes endurance, faith, and having to dig deep when times get tough to endure till the end.

My goal is to raise R100 for every 1 km that I run! So, for everyone who would like to support this cause, please visit my GivenGain link, where every cent raised will go directly to CANSA. Whether you donate, share, like or simply read this story— thank you. Your support means the world to me. God bless you.”

If you would like to support Armand’s campaign, visit the online donation page here.