With just days to go before thousands of participants take to the streets in purple speedos, the 2026 Hollard Daredevil Run is preparing to turn a high-visibility public spectacle into a nationwide conversation about men’s health.
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Taking place on Friday, 23 October 2026, the annual 5km run will be held at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg, alongside events at locations around the country.
This year’s campaign carries the tagline Lekker Balls. Lekker Life, continuing the initiative’s focus on prostate and testicular cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.
Now in its 18th year, the Hollard Daredevil Run has built a recognisable identity around participants running in purple speedos. But beyond the attention-grabbing format, the initiative aims to encourage men and their families to understand cancer risks, recognise the importance of screening and seek medical advice when needed.
“We know that thousands of men running in purple speedos gets people’s attention. What matters is what we do with that attention,” says Adél Kriel, head of experiential marketing at Hollard South Africa.
“There is bravery in putting on a purple speedo in public, but behind this bold campaign is a very serious message: Know your risks, know your body and don’t put off getting checked. It could save your life.”
Turning visibility into impact
The event combines public participation with fundraising for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).
Funds raised support awareness campaigns, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and patient support, helping extend the campaign’s reach beyond race day.
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The model demonstrates how experiential marketing can be used to engage audiences around a serious health issue. By giving participants a memorable and accessible way to get involved, the campaign creates opportunities for conversations that might otherwise be difficult to initiate.
Its distinctive visual identity also helps carry the message into workplaces, families and communities, where participants can encourage others to learn about their health risks and discuss screening with healthcare professionals.
Participation extends beyond the finish line
Organisers are encouraging businesses, colleagues, students, families and groups of friends to participate, fundraise and use the event to start conversations about men’s health.
Participants do not need to be experienced runners, with the initiative focused on collective involvement and awareness rather than athletic performance.
“This October, purple is more than a colour. It’s a conversation starter, but its real impact comes when that conversation extends beyond race day into families, workplaces and communities,” says Kriel.
“The more people who take part, the further that message can reach. You don’t have to be a runner. You just have to be willing to show up for this important cause.”
The 2026 Hollard Daredevil Run starts at 3PM at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg on Friday, 23 October. Details of other participating locations will be shared through the event’s social media platforms.
Entries and further information are available at Hollard Daredevil Run.
For Hollard and its partner organisations, the challenge is to turn the campaign’s distinctive public profile into sustained engagement with men’s health — making awareness, early detection and access to support part of the conversation long after the purple speedos have been put away.
