The Crown of Ashes
That T back-to-back Comrades medal, stamped with the gravitas of his triumph, is more than just metal. It is a relic. A symbol. Proof that the fire did not consume him- it forged him.
“ I didn’ t just want that backto-back medal. I needed it,” he said.“ I needed to prove to myself, and to anyone watching, that your story doesn’ t have to end in addiction or shame. It can end with redemption.”
He recalled the moment he passed the 70km mark, and everything blurred into a“ red mist.”
“ I thought about the guy I used to be- the one curled up on a bathroom floor, praying for a way out. And I just said to myself,‘ This is for him.’ Every step after that was driven by love.” At 89km, the backdrop of the Moses Mhabida Stadium exploded into view. The crowd erupted. The pain evaporated.
“ I didn’ t hear the noise,” he said.“ All I heard was my heartbeat and the voice in my head saying, You did it. You’ re free.”
The Legacy of the Serenity Run
Denver van der Bergh is no longer just a runner. He is a revival in motion. A sermon in sneakers. A former addict who turned his pain into propulsion. With his journey now complete, he has not only raised vital funds for Ramot Treatment Centre, but he has also raised the bar for what recovery looks like.
“ This isn’ t just about addiction. It’ s about hope,” he says.“ It’ s about showing the world that anyone can find their road back. You don’ t need to run across South Africa. You just need to take one honest step.” And take them he did. Thousands upon thousands of them, turning every day into a defiance of despair. From the Cape Flats to Comrades glory in Durban. From overdoses to overachieving. From a statistic to a symbol.
“ This isn’ t just a run— it’ s a resurrection,” he told me when the journey began. Now, those words ring with prophecy. Denver didn’ t just complete The Serenity Run. He completed a transformation. A phoenix sprinting through purgatory, reborn with every kilometre.
And as he stood at the finish line— medal gleaming, past forgiven, future wide open, I thought to myself: The world may measure distance in miles, but Denver has measured it in miracles.
Support the Ramot Treatment Centre and Denver’ s ongoing mission to uplift others in recovery: https:// www. backabuddy. co. za / campaign / serenity
Follow his continuing journey: @ theserenityrun on Instagram
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