Thousands of men in purple undies take over Zoo Lake for men’s health awareness

• More than 4,000 men showed up at Johannesburg's Zoo Lake in nothing but purple Speedos for a record-breaking event
• The 2026 Hollard Daredevil Run marked its largest turnout in 17 years, with over 351 satellite runs held nationwide
• Funds raised go directly to organisations fighting the most common cancer affecting South African men

Thousands of men traded their dignity for a worthy cause on Friday, 23 October 2026, as the Hollard Daredevil Run returned to Zoo Lake in Johannesburg with its biggest crowd yet. Over 4,000 participants showed up wearing nothing more than purple Speedos and running shoes, making it the most well-attended edition of the event since it began 17 years ago.

The annual 5km run is built around a simple but powerful idea: that an uncomfortable, highly visible act can open doors to conversations men would typically shut down. Prostate cancer is currently the most common cancer among South African men, yet many avoid seeking help or discussing their health altogether. The event's organisers believe that stripping down in public, as uncomfortable as it may be, forces exactly the kind of body-positive, stigma-breaking dialogue that saves lives.

Beyond the spectacle at Zoo Lake, the initiative reached every corner of the country. More than 351 neighbourhood runs took place simultaneously, from Cape Town and Bloemfontein to Kimberley, Potchefstroom, Secunda, and even smaller rural communities such as Malalane. The shared date and shared dress code united participants across vastly different settings under a single mission.

The event is not purely symbolic. Every ticket sold and donation received goes directly to two organisations: the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa. These funds support public education campaigns, ongoing medical research, and, critically, free prostate and testicular cancer screenings for men in lower-income and underserved communities who would otherwise have little access to early detection services.

Early detection remains one of the most effective tools against both prostate and testicular cancer, and the Daredevil Run positions itself as a gateway to getting more South African men through clinic doors before symptoms become life-threatening. What started as an eyebrow-raising concept has clearly grown into something far larger, with 2026 proving that the nation's appetite for the cause shows no signs of slowing down.

More on men's health and awareness campaigns

• Briefly News recently reported that a South African content creator praised a global campaign using pink and purple profile pictures to promote unity around gender-based violence.
• A Cape Town man ran the length of Japan after losing his girlfriend to mental health struggles, inspiring him to help young people access therapy.
• Prince Kaybee shared the cause of his mother's death and offered health advice, prompting mixed reactions from fans.

Source: Briefly News

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