Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and it's within all of us to be heroes.
I'm not talking about breaking world records or becoming an astronaut, but rather about donating blood.
I know it's a lot more fun to talk about the sex, drugs and rock and roll part of life... but every now and again it feels just as good to give back.

The first time I donated blood I was still at varsity, and while I don't remember if I just did it for the free biscuits, I've been a big fan of the SANBS (South African National Blood Service) ever since. They recently released a really cool little advert encouraging new and existing donors to be heroes.

Check it out - a little bit of feel-good vibes for you on a Wed. evening.



For more information on how you can donate blood, you can visit http://www.sanbs.org.za, tweet @theSANBS or fan the DOnation of heroes on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SANBS

I'd love to hear your thoughts below, or you can always give me a shout on twitter: @BraaiBoy or facebook... otherwise I'll catch you at the next braai!

Yip, it's that time of the year again - Movember. Movember??? The month previously know as November sees guys all over the world grow their moustaches in support of CANSA, by raising funds and awareness of men's health issues (and specifically cancers that affect men, such as prostate cancer).

Those of you that were following my blog or Facebook around this time last year will remember my transition from BraaiBoy to "dodgy-looking traffic officer"-boy.

SpietkopBoy - Movember 2010

Sound like fun? Then join in or support me... I'd really appreciate you guys supporting me in that little venture again this year. How can you help? There are many ways you can get involved:

1) Help me raise some cash for CANSA
http://za.movember.com/donate/your-details/member_id/1711596/

2) Join the SnorCity team and grow your own Mo
https://www.movember.com/za/register/details/team_id/267394

3) Come join us for the BraaiMo party on the 25th November (details to be finalised... "watch this space").


For more info: Check out the "Movember Rules" and some quality moustache styles


I'll be posting my progress on FaceBook and Twitter ... so feel free to come keep tabs on me.

OK, so Saturday rolled around and I was off to Bronkhorstspruit to go help the guys from Wetnose Animal Recue Centre braai at one of the stalls. I was expecting to braai a couple of boerie rolls, take the dogs for a stroll and then drink a couple of beers... boy, was I in for a surprise.

We had like a million people rock up for the event and they all came hungry. OK, I think the organisers said it was closer to 1, 000... but it was still a shitload. I started braaing at 09h00 or so and didn't stop until just before 16h00. I think we braaied each and every piece of wors and all the patties available in all of Bronkies' butcheries... which is all good news for the animals, since all the proceeds from the day went to Wetnose Animal Rescue Centre who sorely need it as they don't receive any government funding.

 

Thank you VERY much to everyone that popped in to say hello.

There was also lots to entertainment throughout the day, including a dog show and even a beauty pageant... so all in all the day proved to be lots and fun, and I'm very much looking forward to next year - and I hope to see even more of you there. You're also more than welcoem to give them a shout any other time fo the year... http://www.wetnose.org.za/ - The WetNose Animal Rescue Centre is always looking for volunteers and a helping hand.

I'd love to hear your comments below, or you can always give me a shout on twitter or facebook... otherwise I'll catch around the braai!

Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre is hosting their annual Homeless Animal Day on Saturday, 27 Aug in Bronkhorstspruit. So please come join us and take a homeless friend for a walk.

Events kick off at 9am, and besides being able to adopt an orphaned dog (or cat) for the day and taking them on a 1km funwalk - for which you'll receive a special certificate - there will be lots of other fun and entertainment to be had:

• A dog show presented by the dog unit;
• “Ronnie” and her dogs will be hosting a show;
• A Miss Wet Nose Animal Rescue model competition;
• Food stalls (of which I'll be manning a braai at one, so please pop by and say 'Hi') and a beer garden;
• BIG screen TV (so no excuses about missing the Rugby please);
• Entertainment for the kids, so bring them along too!

There's gonna be a “food bowl” and everyone is encouraged bring any animal food, toys or blankets as well. If you can't make it to the event itself, Arcade Empire have volunteered to act as a collection point for donations... so get in touch with them if you need more info.

 

The Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre is based just outside Pretoria East, on the old Bronhorstspruit Road, Plot 75, Vaalbank

Please contact (013) 932 3941/2/6 or (013) 935 3368 for more info, or visit them on their website. If you're on twitter you can also get in touch with @WetNoseARC, Tyron (@Tyronlsa), Julia Rubkina (@Julzy85), Henno Gous (@whisperdscream) or Meg Ekart (@Meg_misshotcake))

These are the entries for the competition for a seat on a truly epic adventure... If you want more info about the competition itself, head on back to the Win a trip through Africa post for more about the competition.

To vote for who you think should get the seat, please mention the person's name in the comments section of this post or browse on over to FaceBook and like the picture of your favourite entry.

The Entries

Skye

Skye Says: Perceivably too high maintenance for this kind of thing. Prepared to forego 5-star hotels and floss; and rough it up all in the name of a good jol (and charity obviously). I'm a carnivore, have a self-deprecating sense of humour and I won't drink your beer :-) What more do you need?

Christo

Christo says: I'm a slightly proud member of the human race. I have lots of reserves and could go hungry for days if needed, although I'd prefer if we could braai every day on the trip.

Willie

Willie says: I'm an inventor and an innovator. I'm the guy you need on any trip through Africa.

Vincent

Vincent says: Hi. I am Vincent. I live for braais and Africa. Its been a dream to travel through Africa and your votes can make this come true. Braai and Smile!

Annamarie

Annamarie says: We are very fortunate to visit this special people in Bushmanland in Namibia. They also forms part of our project of upliftment and responsible Tourism. Winning this will give me the opportunity to give someone less fortunate than myself the chance to experience the wonders of Africa.

Frikkie

Frikkie says: Ek hou van braai, en ek hou van Afrika. Sit my in die bos met 'n vuurtjie en ek's op my gelukkigste.

Rikus

Rikus says: Hi, I’m Rikus, and I’m a musician. That alone should tell you that I need your votes to travel. Do you know how many pizza’s a bassist has to deliver just to visit his parents, nevermind go on holiday? Well, I do... Furthermore, I LOVE The Braai, I always get photo-bombed, and I’ve never been North of South Africa. Oh, the girl is just there so more guys will like my pic :-)

Ronald

Ronald says: Van Afrika tot Iraq, ‘n boer maak n plan met n braai - Ronald Andeson en Godfrey Anker - ons moes ma net die 2 en enigste speen varkies in Iraq braai die dag! En was hulle nie lekker so ver weg van huis nie!

Brennan

Larissa (on behalf ofBrennan) says: He is an avid braaier in fact we braai a variety of things at least 3 times a week come rain or shine!!

If you'd like to enter... send me a picture of yourself in "Africa mode" and/or braaing, and I'll put you up for voting.

I'm so super stoked and you should be too!

We've finally managed to organise some wheels for a little adventure through Africa. The Put Foot Rally is going to take us through 7 countries in 17 days in what is being billed as the first ever social rally in Southern Africa. This no route, no rules, no holds barred trip through Africa will see us kicking off in South Africa with our first stop in Namibia. Then we're off to Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and wrapping it up in Swaziland. It's Braai Time in Africa!

Put Foot Rally The guys organising this party	Bobs For Good The charity benefiting

OK, so it's obvious why I should be so fired up, but why did I say that you should be too? Well, as luck would have it... there's an open seat in our Landy, and it's reserved for one of you guys... and it's not gonna cost you!

So what do you need to do to get in on this action?
Pretty simple really:
1) Take a picture of yourself at a braai (or something Africa related... or both)
2) Email that picture to me (putfoot@braaiboy.co.za), accompanied by 2-3 sentences justifying why you should be chosen
3) I'll upload that picture to both Braaiboy's FaceBook page as well as on the website
4) Ask your friends to vote for your picture

The 3 pictures with the most website votes and Facebook likes will be entered into a lucky draw, and the winner will join us on the trip of a lifetime.

To view the entries in the competition, please go to Put Foot Entries

Some Fineprint:
• If you get eaten by a Lion or any other African fate befalls you, you will not hold BraaiBoy or any of his sponsors liable.
• You need to sign and agree to the Putfoot Crew Entry Agreement - available http://www.putfootrally.com/registrations-process/crew-entry-agreement/
• You need a valid passport, visas and inoculations
• You food, travel and accommodation will be taken care of, but you will be be liable for your own booze, items of a personal nature and "extra activities" we might come across along the way
• Competition closes on Wed. 8th June @ 12h00 and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter
• We kick off in Cape Town on the 22nd June and you will need to get yourself there, and get yourself back home on the 8th July
• BraaiBoy reserves the right to amend or alter any clauses relating to the competition
• Judge's (BraaiBoy's) decision is final

So I was browsing through my Twitter timeline and being lent a lot of tweets where about what everyone was giving up etc., but then I came across a tweet that led me to this site 40 Days of Zarmies and it got me thinking "Now that's an awesome idea".

An extract of Brad's site reads:

I light up a fire every day anyway, and it's not going to be a big issue to add an extra piece of wors onto the fire and I can make a diference to someones life. So, that's exactly what I'll be doing.

If you'd like to join in, pop on over to Brad's blog (40 Days of Zarmies) and leave a comment. If you're on twitter you can follow him on @BigBradBrown or @RoxyBurger (who's idea it was originally) and let them know too.

 

Whenever I shave my head, I think I look like some mean-ass biker dude with loads of street-cred. I mean, it's all falling out on its own anyway... so why not just help it along?

Unfortunately my wife doesn't agree, and while I could be all macho and tell the little lady that I'll do what I like and she needs to live with it, she does have some good bargaining chips preventing me from doing so.

However, there's an exception: Sometime around the beginning of March every year CANSA has a Shavathon. Dunno what a shavathon is? Check this: What's a shavathon.

This was me before the shave... a hansome devil, I know :-)

 

 And then this is my new look for a while:

Did you also shave (or colour your head) this year? If so, send me some pics and I'll see about posting them online. If you didn't... I hope you'll be joining me next year!