An endurance athlete, Nii the Menace (opens in a new tab), has completed a run from Accra to KNUST in Kumasi to raise awareness of breast cancer during Pink October.
The video announcing the run had more than 158,000 views on his Instagram, with netizens, including broadcaster and fitness enthusiast Naa Ashorkor, cheering him on. A comment from influencer and content creator Mahalia Akatugba summed up how a lot of people felt: “That’s so impressive & even better cuz it’s for a good cause! He’s for the girlss 💞”
Known as Nii Okai in private life, the athlete who calls himself The Running Traveller has a degree in economics and an MBA in finance.
He also runs Runners Haven by Nii, (opens in a new tab) a store for runners that sells running and gym shoes, Garmin watches, running vests and compression shorts and tights.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the numbers in Ghana explain why runs like his matter.
The Ghanaian Times reported this month that more than 5,000 women in Ghana are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and nearly 2,700 die from it. It also said death rates stay high largely because women are diagnosed late.
When he announced he had finished the race a few hours on social media, he thanked his sponsors, WIN Energy Ghana, Ecobank Ghana, Delicious Munchee Biscuits and Ofosu Mensah and Sons, “for supporting the cause.”
Health officials say the conversation can’t stop when October ends. Speaking on Asaase Radio last week, Dr Naomi Apea of the Ghana Health Service described asking a church congregation how many women had been screened, and said: “It was just one person.”
Now people want the details nobody saw on camera. His comments are full of questions about where he slept at night and whether he got to bathe, and we’re hoping he tells us all about it soon.
