Update
GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route Mall, with a R250 000 sponsorship for the 2025 Outeniqua Chair Challenge (OCC), is one of several sponsors who have come forward with a lifeline for this premier event that has been on George's annual calendar since 2002.
The event was to take place on 22 February but had to be cancelled in the middle of January due to a R300 000 sponsorship deficit.
However, media coverage of their predicament led to potential sponsors coming forward with pledges within a short timespan and a new date could be set. It will now be held on 15 March at Carpe Diem School.
OCC race director Alewijn Dippenaar told George Herald on Monday that their regular sponsors, George Municipality, Lancewood and Safari, are again on board to ensure that the race takes place. "But the cherry on the cake this year is definitely the Garden Route Mall who came on board to sponsor an amount of R250 000 within a couple of hours after the media articles."
Furthermore, the Western Cape Premier's office and Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport have indicated that they will increase their sponsorship for 2025 and Garden Route District Municipality promised to also provide some funding to make the OCC happen.
Not long after this the organisers, the Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRRF), received confirmation that the teams from Zimbabwe, Ghana and Namibia as well as athletes from Botswana will be participating.
Further funding needed
Further funding is still needed to increase the prize money and help with the transport and accommodation costs of athletes who have to travel to George.
Dippenaar said athletes travel from far to compete for small amounts of prize money and this needs to improve. Many of the South African athletes also need support with transport and accommodation costs.
"Even if it is a small amount that is donated, it will make a big difference."
Contact Dippenaar, the event director and member of the board of directors of DRRF/OCC, at dyndev@mweb.co.za or on 082 457 5675.
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