South Africans love an excuse to wear “plakkies”, and now they can wear them for a powerful cause: Flip Flop Day supports children with cancer nationwide.
South Africa (29 January 2026) – If there is one thing South Africans will never say no to, it is an excuse to wear plakkies. To the shops. To work. To a wedding. And now, once again, to make a real difference in the lives of children battling cancer.
Flip Flop Day 2026 is officially back on Friday, 20 February, and it is inviting the entire country to put their best foot forward for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer. Led by CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa, the national fundraising and awareness campaign asks individuals, schools and workplaces to purchase a R10 Flip Flop Day sticker and wear their flip flops in solidarity with families walking a journey no one chooses.
It is lighthearted on the surface, plakkies and photos and a bit of fun, but the impact runs deeper.
“This fun campaign carries a serious message, that no family should walk the childhood cancer journey alone,” says Hedley Lewis, CEO of CHOC. “A small action, like purchasing a R10 sticker, enables CHOC to provide practical, emotional and educational support to children, adolescents and their families when they need it most.”
And that support is not symbolic. Funds raised through Flip Flop Day help CHOC deliver very real, very necessary services, from safe accommodation near treatment centres and transport assistance, to psychosocial care and educational programmes that help children continue learning during treatment.
Good Things Guy was present at the launch of Flip Flop Day 2026, soaking up all the success of years gone by and the meaningful ways people can get involved this year.
In 2026, the campaign emphasises friendship and shared participation, encouraging people to get involved together. So that is your challenge, rally your colleagues, classmates, family and local community to take part.
We always love to maths these things… So let’s see what the numbers say, and then you pick your challenge!
When 20 people each buy a sticker for R10, that covers the monthly average cost of a child travelling to and from cancer treatment. We all know at least 5 people to challenge, who can then challenge their own 5 people, and so the power of a simple R10 sticker and a pair of flops, slops, plakkies, or pluggers (if you prefer the Australian term) makes a difference.
When 30 people get involved, it helps fund a CHOC Carebag, which every newly diagnosed child or teenager receives. These Carebags include essential toiletries and a parent handbook designed to help families understand and prepare for the road ahead.
When 60 people take part, it can cover one night of accommodation for a child and caregiver at a CHOC House, offering a safe, hygienic room and meals at no cost to them.
Suddenly, plakkies do not feel like just a comfy summer shoe choice.
So now is the chance. Set your challenge with your loved ones, get your stickers and get together to snap a fun picture on Flip Flop Day, Friday, 20th of February.
Getting involved could not be simpler. Purchase a Flip Flop Day sticker for just R10 from CHOC or Tekkie Town stores nationwide. Wear your sticker and your favourite pair of flip flops on Friday, 20 February 2026. Encourage the people around you to join in. Take a photo. Share it. Tag CHOC on Instagram, Facebook or X and use #FlipFlopDay26 to help spread awareness.
CHOC thanks its partners for helping spread this initiative far and wide, from The Courier Guy to OUTsurance, Tekkie Town and Ipanema. This day is always a greater success when South Africans come together.
Flip Flop Day continues to show what happens when South Africans unite with purpose and compassion. Sometimes, changing a life really does start with something as simple as putting on your plakkies.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.choc.org.za.
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