Awareness, Campaign, Children, Events, Impact, News articles, Youth
NCPD’s 14th Annual Nappy Run: South Africa’s Largest Nappy Collection Campaign Returns to Champion Dignity and Educational Access
Sep
Historic campaign enters its 14th year, calling on all South Africans to support 600,000 children denied education due to a lack of basic necessities.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) proudly announces the 14th Annual Nappy Run, taking place on Saturday, 1 November 2025, at the Johannesburg Zoo. This transformative campaign, which has become a cornerstone of disability rights advocacy in South Africa, invites communities across Johannesburg and the entire nation to participate in what has grown from a local initiative into a nationwide movement for dignity and inclusion.
A Campaign Born from Crisis, Sustained by Community
The Nappy Run began in 2011 as NCPD’s response to a devastating reality: an estimated 600,000 children with disabilities remain out of school in South Africa, with many facing exclusion due to basic needs like incontinence management. Parents report paying R400 per month for nappies alongside school fees, creating impossible financial burdens that force families to choose between dignity and education. What started as a single event has evolved into a comprehensive two-month campaign, running from October 3 to December 3, strategically spanning Children’s Rights Month (October) and Disability Rights Awareness Month (November), culminating on International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
“When we launched the first Nappy Run 14 years ago, we never imagined it would become the lifeline it is today for thousands of families,” explains Danie Marais, Senior Manager: Projects and Programmes at NCPD. “Each year, we witness the profound impact that something as basic as a nappy can have on a child’s access to education, a family’s dignity, and an entire community’s understanding of disability rights.”
The Stark Reality Driving Change
Behind the vibrant 5km fun walk or run lies a sobering truth about disability in South Africa. Among the nation’s 11 million persons with disabilities, 7 million are children. A disabled child requires approximately 240 nappies monthly, costing around R1,200, whilst a disabled adult needs roughly 180 nappies per month at R2,500. These figures become particularly stark when compared to the monthly disability grant, which ranges from R2,180 to R2,310 depending on individual circumstances and means testing.
The consequences extend far beyond financial hardship. Without adequate access to nappies, children with disabilities are excluded from schools, denied social interaction, and stripped of their constitutional right to education. Families face impossible choices between necessities, often leading to isolation and despair.
“The desperation is so extreme that some families resort to using wheelbarrows for mobility assistance,” notes NCPD’s presentation materials, highlighting how the lack of resources affects every aspect of life for persons with disabilities.
A Track Record of Transformation
Since its inception in 2011, the Nappy Run has demonstrated remarkable impact across South Africa. The campaign has:
- Supported an average of 2,000 children annually for the last 12 years
- Donated 48,000 nappies yearly between 2022 and 2025
- Visited 130 centres and schools for children with disabilities each year
- Helped parents secure school placements for their children
- Advanced disability rights advocacy nationwide
- Facilitated educational access for thousands of previously excluded children
The success stories emerging from communities across South Africa illustrate the campaign’s profound reach. In 2024, Afrika Tikkun’s Arekopaneng Disability Support Group’s participation exemplified how local organisations can amplify the campaign’s impact within their communities. Similarly, the 2023 event saw hundreds of families gathering not just for the run, but for a celebration of inclusion and community solidarity.
Multiple Ways to Make a Difference
The Nappy Run offers various participation opportunities for individuals, families, and organisations:
Individual Participation:
- Register for the 5km Fun Walk or Run at Johannesburg Zoo
- Donate nappies directly (small, medium, and large children’s nappies; small to extra-large adult nappies)
- Contribute funds through https://www.givengain.com/campaign/nappies-for-dignity
- Bring nappy donations as entrance gifts to events
Corporate Engagement:
- Organise office drop-off points and inter-department competitions
- Allocate portions of event budgets to the NCPD nappy drive
- Host corporate nappy runs encouraging employee participation
- Leverage CSI/CSR budgets for tax-deductible donations with Section 18A certificates
- Gain B-BBEE points through strategic partnership arrangements
Community Initiatives:
- Coordinate neighbourhood collection drives
- Partner with local schools and churches
- Establish ongoing donation points in community centres
- Organise sponsored walks or runs in your area
Comprehensive Support: The Wheelchair Drive
Recognising that dignity extends beyond continence care, NCPD operates a parallel wheelchair collection drive alongside the Nappy Run campaign. With custom wheelchairs costing up to R40,000 each and the average disabled child requiring six wheelchairs before graduation, this initiative addresses another critical barrier to inclusion.
Since 2022, the wheelchair component has provided 50 wheelchairs annually, following a comprehensive assessment process that evaluates individual needs, home environments, and community accessibility. This holistic approach ensures that each wheelchair recipient gains not only mobility but also genuine access to education, employment, and social participation.
Provincial Reach Through Strategic Partnerships
The Nappy Run’s impact extends nationwide through NCPD’s network of 9 Provincial Associations of and for Persons with Disabilities (APDs) and 600 member schools and NPOs. This infrastructure ensures that donations and support reach communities from urban centres to rural villages, making the campaign truly representative of South Africa’s diverse disability community.
Corporate partners have played a vital role in the campaign’s success, with companies such as Epiroc, Marsh, and Checkers providing crucial support to amplify the campaign’s reach and impact. These partnerships demonstrate the private sector’s commitment to disability inclusion and corporate social responsibility.
Local associations across provinces coordinate collection points, identify beneficiaries, and manage distribution logistics, ensuring that support reaches those most in need while building sustainable community partnerships.
A Vision for Inclusive Education
The ultimate goal of the Nappy Run transcends immediate relief. By addressing basic needs, the campaign tackles systemic barriers to inclusive education. When children with disabilities gain access to schools, entire educational communities benefit from increased diversity, empathy, and understanding.
“Every nappy donated represents a day of education, a moment of dignity, and a step towards an inclusive society,” emphasises NCPD’s campaign messaging. “We’re not just collecting nappies; we’re building a South Africa where every child’s potential can be realised.”
This Year’s Ambitious Targets
For 2025, NCPD has set ambitious goals reflecting the growing need and community support:
- 100,000 nappies collected during the campaign period
- 300 wheelchairs distributed to assessed recipients
- Expanded participation from corporate partners and government entities
- Enhanced advocacy through media partnerships and community engagement
Supporting just one child annually requires R14,000 or 2,900 nappies, whilst adult support needs R30,000 or 2,200 nappies yearly. These figures underscore both the magnitude of need and the tangible impact that collective action can achieve.
Registration and Participation Details
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, 1 November 2025
- Location: Johannesburg Zoo
- Distance: 5km Fun Run (accessible to all abilities)
- Registration: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/319414-nappy-run-fun-run-at-the-johannesburg-zoo-2025/
Contact Information: Danie Marais, Senior Manager: Projects and Programmes Email: danie@ncpd.org.za Phone: +27 11 452 2774
Online Donations: https://www.givengain.com/campaign/nappies-for-dignity
Follow the Campaign:
- Website: https://ncpd.org.za/nappy-run/
- Social Media: @theNCPDZA (Facebook, X, TikTok), @the-ncpd (LinkedIn), @ncp
Stories of Transformation
The accurate measure of the Nappy Run’s success lies not in statistics, but in the lives it has transformed. Maria, whose 11-year-old son has spina bifida, no longer faces the heartbreaking choice between buying nappies and paying school fees. “Before the Nappy Run, I was paying R400 per month for nappies plus school fees,” she explains. “The campaign gave my son dignity and me hope.”
Similarly, families across South Africa share stories of children who can now attend school regularly, participate in activities with their peers, and pursue their dreams without the shame and exclusion that once defined their daily reality. These personal victories represent thousands of children who have gained access to education, parents who have found community support, and families who have reclaimed their dignity.
The wheelchair component has been equally transformative. Young recipients speak of newfound independence – the ability to navigate their schools, participate in sports, and engage with friends on equal terms. For many, receiving a properly fitted wheelchair marks the beginning of genuine inclusion in their communities.
These human stories underscore why the Nappy Run continues to grow each year, driven not by obligation but by the undeniable evidence that basic needs, when met with compassion and consistency, unlock extraordinary potential in every child.
Join the Movement
The 14th Annual Nappy Run represents more than a fundraising event; it embodies South Africa’s commitment to constitutional principles of equality, dignity, and inclusion. Every participant becomes an advocate for disability rights, every donation becomes a building block for accessible education, and every shared story becomes a catalyst for social transformation.
As communities across South Africa prepare for this year’s campaign, the message remains clear. When we support the basic needs of children and adults with disabilities, we strengthen the fabric of our entire society. The Nappy Run 2025 invites every South African to be part of this essential work – because dignity is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right.