Pulling Challenge Hauls Truck From Centurion to Cape Town

Twenty participants each represent a charity in a 40-day journey covering 1,651km to raise funds.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Philanthropy

Wide photograph of a white truck on an empty highway stretching across open South African grassland under warm golden-hour light. — Twenty charity-representing participants began pulling a 14-tonne truck 1,651km from Centurion to Cape Town, aiming to raise R30m for Irene Homes over 40 days. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Twenty participants began pulling a 14-tonne truck from Centurion to Cape Town, a 1,651km journey, as part of a challenge raising funds for 20 charities. The event, first held 23 years ago, is designed to involve charities directly, with each participant representing one.

Why it matters

The challenge channels fundraising through participating charities, with organisers aiming to raise R30m for Irene Homes. Its long-running format and sustained online engagement show how endurance events can draw public attention to charitable causes across South Africa.

The challenge covers 1,651km over 40 consecutive days at 45km to 50km per day, with organisers targeting R30m for Irene Homes. Livestream and social media platforms have recorded more than two million views, but the total amount raised across all 20 charities has not yet been reported.

The players

Irene Homes

Irene Homes is a Pretoria-based charity supporting older people and is the primary beneficiary of the fundraising target.

The details

Each of the 20 selected participants, men and women, represents a charity, a structure the organisers chose to involve charities directly in the event. Participants are well protected by security companies and the police along the route, which passes through Bloemfontein.

The challenge runs for 40 consecutive days.
The event was first held 23 years ago.

Philanthropy Pathway

Now in its 23rd year, the challenge continues a long-running South African model of endurance fundraising in which each participant carries the name of a charity. This edition extends that model by linking all 20 participants directly to individual beneficiary organisations.

Readers following the challenge can track progress through the livestream and social media channels, which have drawn more than two million views. Anyone wishing to support the charities involved can do so directly through each participating organisation.

The takeaway

Endurance fundraising works best when each participant carries a specific cause, turning a physical challenge into direct support for twenty charities. Supporters who want to contribute can give directly to the organisations involved.