DJ Run
2026
Here you will find all the information regarding DJ Run 2026. Thank you for helping us spread awareness of the importance of mental health and suicide prevention.
Register
Watch This Space!
Registrations for DJ Run 2026 will be open soon.
IMPACTPHIL
Register
Join the Movement! Registrations will be opening soon on ImpactPhil.
Gear Up
Shop
DJ Run 2026 merch coming soon!
There is a minimum price for each item, but you will be able to increase this price if you would like to donate as all profits will be going to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).
make your mark
Semicolon Tattoo
In mental health awareness, the semicolon has come to represent a powerful message: a pause, not an end. It’s a reminder that, even during life’s darkest moments, your story can continue. For those who have faced mental health struggles or have lost loved ones to suicide, the semicolon is a mark of courage, strength, support, and solidarity. It encourages individuals to take pride in their journey and to know they are not alone.
We are excited to partner with local tattoo studios who are offering discounted rates on semicolon tattoos throughout the week.
Shop 6a, First Floor, The Kenridge Centre
Cnr Tygerbergvalley Road and Mildred Road
Call: 063 920 6819
Need to know
Event Information
Year 9!
2026 is our ninth annual DJ Run! We are so proud of the incredible community that has formed around this event.
Join us for a week-long event of in-person and online physical activities and mental health talks.
Together we can make a difference and we are eager for YOU to play a role in the bright future ahead of DJ Run and Watch Me Rise.
Date:
Starts:
16 November 2026, 00:00
Ends:
22 November 2026, 23:59
Goals:
Following previous years, we have a personal goal of 37km for each participant. This is in commemoration of Derrick Kropman (DJ), the event’s namesake, who would have been 37 in 2026 had he not passed.
Virtual event:
The event will not be taking place in a singular location. You can therefore participate from wherever you are in the world.
We will be integrating with Strava to track everyone’s exercise submissions. See the frequently asked questions below or contact us if you are having trouble or need more information.
Itinerary:
Full itineraries for the 7 Days of Focus and our online Mental Health Series will be posted here.
Rules:
- All forms of exercise are allowed.
- Activities will be pulled from Strava. Activities can be tracked in the Strava mobile App, synced to Strava via a supported connected device, or manually entered on the Strava App or website.
- Only exercises within the dates and times of the event will count.
Donations:
We are raising funds for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), an organisation that supports mental health. We believe that they are making a big difference in providing support to those who need it.
New Partners
2025 Highlights
DJ Run 2025 was another meaningful week of movement, connection and conversation in support of mental health and suicide prevention. We were excited to welcome several new partners to the DJ Run community, including Iron Tiger, Trident Fight Centre and Zumba Claremont, who helped us create even more opportunities for people to get involved and move for mental health.
We also continued our focus on creating open, informed conversations around mental health through our Mental Health Series, including regular talks with October Health, as well as sessions featuring CJ Nel, Mia Pienaar, Bracha Singer. These conversations helped create a safe space for learning, reflection and connection, and we are excited to continue building on this in 2026.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, partnered with us and helped spread the message. DJ Run continues to grow because of the incredible community behind it, and we’re looking forward to making 2026 even bigger, with more partners, more activities and more opportunities to connect, move and continue the conversation around mental health and suicide prevention.
Get your training plan
Below you can go to the training challenge page to download your free 8-week half marathon training plan with a calendar included.
Getting ready for this year's DJ Run
Training challenge
This is a free 8-week half-marathon training plan with a calendar and detailed descriptions of what you need to do every day.
If you have never run a half marathon before, or if you have and just need to get in shape again, this is a great way to get yourself ready for this year’s DJ Run.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When registrations open, click “Participate” at the top of this page. You will be redirected to the DJ Run page on impactphil.org, once there, click “Register” and follow the prompts to register for ImpactPhil, DJ Run 2026, and connect your Strava account.
Strava is an American internet service for tracking physical exercise which incorporates social network features. It is mostly used for cycling and running using Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
We use your activities in Strava as entries in the DJ Run event. This makes it easier for you as you just need to track your activity as normal in Strava.
If you prefer not to use Strava, or if you are running with a dependent, there will also be the option to manually add activities on your profile page after you have logged into your account.
You can track your event entries by simply tracking your activity in Strava as normal, this will occur automatically once you link your Strava account to your profile.
Or you can add your activities manually on your profile page.
This is a virtual event, so you can participate from anywhere in the world.
Even though the name of the event is DJ Run, any form of exercise for which you can track duration and/or distance will be allowed.
The event will run from 00:00 (CAT) on the morning of 16 November 2026 until 23:59 (CAT) on the night of 22 November 2026. Only activities entered during these times will count.
If you are not able to participate in the event, we also offer a donation option.
We are raising funds for The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). SADAG is a Mental Health NGO and we believe that they are making a big difference by providing support to those who need it. If you would like to find out more, or if you would like to donate, click here.
You do not need to complete the 37km goal in one run. The event entries will be cumulative, which means that all of your activity entries within the event dates will count towards your total.
speak up
Reach out
If you, or anyone you know, is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to one of the many free resources available.
24-hour toll-free emergency helplines in South Africa:
Suicide crisis helpline: 0800 567 567
CIPLA mental health helpline: 0800 456 789 / SMS 32312
Substance abuse helpline: 0800 12 12 14
More helplines are available at https://findahelpline.com/za/topics/suicidal-thoughts
More resources can be found here:
https://www.humanitas.co.za/counselling/free-counselling/
https://www.sadag.org/
https://october.health/
Search here for international helplines near you:
