Thousands brave purple Speedos to push testing, early detection and lifesaving conversations across every province
Neighbourhoods, office parks, sports clubs and schools around South Africa turned a vibrant shade of purple on 31 October 2025, as thousands of men — and a surprising number of cheering women and children — took part in the 16th annual Hollard Daredevil Run. What looks like a cheeky stunt is a serious public-health movement: the iconic purple Speedo has become a national symbol for prostate and testicular cancer awareness, screening access, and the plain need for men to talk about their health. hollard.co.za
From first light runs in Ermelo, Bethlehem and Durban North to the flagship mass gathering at Zoo Lake, Johannesburg, the country-wide programme included hundreds of regional events — Khayelitsha, Mahikeng, Plettenberg Bay, Kimberley, Mbombela and many more. Corporate running teams, social clubs and school groups joined the spectacle, turning ordinary streets into awareness hubs and transforming a single act of bravery into a public-health message that travels.
“This year’s turnout proves the message is working,” said Hazel Chimhandamba, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Hollard. “Understanding symptoms and available tests — and making those tests available in under-resourced communities — is what saves lives. We are humbled by the numbers who joined us today.”
Real impact: screening, training and outreach
The Daredevil Run is more than visual theatre. Hollard’s fundraising supports long-standing partners CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa, enabling free and low-cost screening, training for health workers, and community outreach in rural and underserved areas. CANSA reports that last year’s efforts funded around 1,000 PSA tests, trained 649 healthcare professionals and expanded cancer-education outreach — direct, measurable outputs that illustrate how awareness converts into care.
“The funding is truly life-saving,” said Lorraine Govender, National Manager: Health Programmes at CANSA. “Screening, education and the capacity-building of healthcare workers give men a realistic chance of early detection and successful treatment.”
Andrew Oberholzer, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, reinforced that message: “The purple Daredevil Speedo has become a symbol of hope. We couldn’t be prouder of the impact it has in raising awareness, encouraging early detection and ultimately saving lives across South Africa.”
Money matters — and the targets are bold
Hollard has been transparent about last year’s totals and this year’s ambition. The insurer reported approximately R780,000 raised at the 2024 event in its launch communications for the 2025 run, and other partner channels have cited seven-figure totals in recent years. Hollard says it aims to double funds raised in 2025 so that more testing and support can reach men in remote and resource-strapped communities. Supporters can donate via the Hollard Daredevil BackaBuddy campaign page and many corporate partners — including iTOO and C&R — pledged support ahead of the event.
Why this matters: facts that should make every man stop and think
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Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among South African men; early detection through PSA testing can dramatically improve outcomes. CANSA and clinical guidance recommend awareness and discussion, especially for men at higher risk. CANSA
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Testicular cancer is relatively rare but is one of the most common cancers affecting younger men (ages roughly 15–49), and it is highly treatable when caught early. Self-checks and prompt clinical review save lives.
Across the country’s Daredevil locations, volunteers and health partners offered information and signposted men to screening services — turning a viral visual campaign into tangible access to care. The run’s unusual mix of theatre and grassroots health delivery helps lower stigma and removes excuses for inaction.
Voices from the day
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“As a nation, sport is in our blood; if we’re that passionate about it we can be equally passionate about our health,” Chimhandamba told reporters at the Daredevil launch.
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“Early detection through screening can make all the difference between full recovery and a terminal diagnosis,” health advocates reiterated in local commentaries ahead of the event.
How you can still help
If you didn’t run today you can still support the cause: donate through the Hollard Daredevil BackaBuddy page, organise workplace or school awareness and PSA drives, or encourage a man you care about to get a check — a simple PSA blood test and conversation with a clinician could change a life. Hollard and the event’s partners continue to use the visibility to raise funds for targeted screening campaigns in rural and under-resourced areas. backabuddy.co.za
A closing note
The Daredevil Run is equal parts spectacle and service: it makes men laugh, removes stigma with a wink, and points hundreds of thousands of curious people toward the single most practical health step men can take — talk to a clinician and get screened. In the end, that purple Speedo is a prop for a much larger purpose: community, conversation, early detection and, ultimately, lives saved. See you next year — and bring a friend
