For one audacious afternoon every year South Africa goes purple — not in mourning, but in mischief, solidarity and life-saving intent. On Friday, 31 October 2025, thousands of men across the country will lace up takkies, shrug off the ordinary and run in nothing but purple Speedos to spark conversations, fund lifesaving screening programmes and break the silence around prostate and testicular cancers. Now in its 16th year, the Hollard Daredevil Run has grown from a cheeky stunt into a national men’s-health movement with real, measurable impact.
This is how it works: entrants pay a registration fee (R180 when purchased via Ticketpro), receive a couriered Daredevil pack that includes the now-iconic purple Speedo, and either join one of the organised gatherings — Zoo Lake in Johannesburg is the flagship mass event — or run with friends, colleagues or classmates in their own neighbourhoods. For men who miss the online cutoff, limited on-the-day entries are usually available at Zoo Lake until mid-afternoon, but organisers urge early sign-ups because packs sell fast.
Why the spectacle matters
At first glance the Daredevil Run looks like a stunt built for social media — vivid, viral and hilarious. But the costume-optional bravado serves a higher purpose: it cracks open the awkward silence around men’s health and pushes testing and early detection into the mainstream. Hollard uses the event to funnel funds and visibility to long-standing beneficiaries — the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation — ensuring screening and education reach communities that need them most. CANSA and Hollard also run on-site PSA testing and awareness services in major centres on Daredevil Day. CANSA
Impact by the numbers
The Daredevil Run’s growth is not just performative — it’s measurable. The 2024 campaign raised roughly R780,000 in grassroots contributions; Hollard topped that up to deliver R1 million to CANSA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the programme engaged more than 6,000 participants across 400+ locations nationwide. This year Hollard has set an ambition to double the funds raised, using the national spectacle to scale testing access and awareness further into under-resourced areas.
Voices from the movement
“Hollard is committed to driving positive change, creating awareness around prostate and testicular cancers which is why we’ve continued to grow the Daredevil Run year after year,” says Hazel Chimhandamba, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Hollard. Her message is simple and blunt: visible, even ridiculous, solidarity makes it easier for men to talk about their bodies — and talk leads to tests, and tests save lives. hollard.co.za
How you can help — beyond running
If you’re not comfortable sprinting in a Speedo, you can still be part of the movement. Hollard’s BackaBuddy fundraising page channels donations directly to CANSA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation to underwrite mobile clinics, PSA testing campaigns and community education. Corporates can field teams, schools can plan sanctioned runs or awareness sessions, and workplaces can use the day as a platform for male-health checkups — practical actions that extend the run’s impact well after the finish line.
Practical details (so you don’t miss out)
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When: Friday, 31 October 2025.
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Entry: R180 via Ticketpro (includes couriered registration pack and purple Speedo). Enter online before 28 October to guarantee your pack; limited on-the-day entries at Zoo Lake (Joburg) may be available until 14:30 on the day. Check the official Daredevil Run page and Ticketpro for the latest city lists and entry windows.
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Where to follow updates: Hollard Daredevil Run Facebook page, CANSA channels and Hollard’s Daredevil microsite. Fundraising and donations: Hollard Daredevil BackABuddy campaign page.
A cultural act of courage
The Hollard Daredevil Run’s power lies in the juxtaposition: manhood theatrics used to promote vulnerability — to encourage men to check their bodies and to talk about their fears. The purple Speedo is part costume, part conversation starter and entirely purposeful. As the country prepares to paint its streets purple, the real victory will be measured not in likes or laughs but in clinic queues, in PSA tests performed, and — ultimately — in lives saved.
Make your ballsiest move yet. Register, donate, or gather a crew — and use a moment of audacity to start a conversation that could change a life.
