Under the North West sun, thousands of South Africans came together to remind each other that joy heals, connection matters and that it’s okay to not be okay.
Sun City, South Africa (08 November 2025) – Not every race is about who finishes first. Some are about who shows up… for themselves, for their community and for a cause that truly matters. The Sun City GM’s Kasi Ride is one of those events. A gathering that proves how powerful it can be when people move with purpose.
Held at the iconic Sun City Resort and its surrounding local communities, this annual charity event has become a highlight on the calendar, a day that turns kilometres into connection and movement into meaning. With cycling, walking, and running all part of the line-up, it’s not about how fast you go… it’s about showing up, together, for mental health awareness.
This year’s Kasi Ride was extraordinary. Over 7,500 free tickets were given to participants, opening the gates to the resort’s scenic trails, and ushering in a full day of joy, laughter, and community spirit. Families arrived in their Kasi tees, kids ran around with their faces painted, cyclists compared gear and routes and friends cheered each other on at every turn.
The air was electric. The kind of energy that reminds you what it means to be South African. There was music, food, dancing and that unmistakable Kasi vibe that makes every moment feel alive.
And through it all, one message stood out: mental health matters.
This was a day of sport but it was also a day of solidarity. A day of saying, “We see you, we hear you, and we’re all in this together.” Because the truth is, mental health touches every one of us, in our families, our friendships, our workplaces. The Kasi Ride took that truth out of the shadows and onto the trails, turning awareness into action in the most beautiful way possible.
I had the privilege of joining the ride this year, covering more than 45 kilometres through the breathtaking surroundings of Sun City. Along the route, I met people who had lost loved ones, overcome battles, or simply showed up because they needed the reminder that they weren’t alone. Strangers encouraged one another, volunteers handed out water with smiles that could power a small city and conversations about wellbeing flowed as easily as the rhythm of tyres on the road.
When I caught up with Brett Hoppe, General Manager of Sun City, his passion for this initiative was clear.
“This day is about more than sport. It’s about creating space, a safe, joyful space, for our community to come together and talk about mental health. We want people to know that it’s okay to speak, it’s okay to reach out, and that Sun City is part of that conversation.”
And that’s exactly what made the day special. It wasn’t about the resort or the miles. It was about connection, real, human connection. The kind that can shift a person’s entire day, maybe even their life.
By the end of it, the trails were lined with tired but happy faces. Sweaty hugs, shared laughter and the kind of smiles that tell you something good just happened here. This wasn’t just another charity event. It was a reminder of how powerful we are when we come together.
The Sun City GM’s Kasi Ride takes place annually in October. Mark your calendars for 2026 now!
*Full transparency, I have become a brand ambassador for Cycle Lab and Orbea (in South Africa) so you may see some cycling things on Good Things Guy (and my own socials) but I want to assure you, that it is all in the name of good things (I will always find them) and I am definitely not going through a mid-life crisis (maybe).
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