GEORGE NEWS - A last-ditch effort is being made to keep George's flagship event, the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC), alive, after it was announced on 17 January that a lack of funds has finally driven the 2025 OCC off the road.

The cancellation of the race, that was set to take place on 22 February, caused an outcry, and event director Alewijn Dippenaar was flooded with calls not to cancel, but to rather postpone the OCC to the end of March or mid-April.

After a meeting this week with representatives from the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, a renewed effort is being made to secure the almost R300 000 still needed to host the OCC this year. Dippenaar said the organising body, the Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRFF), will do everything in its power to save the award-winning event.

"The DRRF needs the bare minimum of R627 000 to make it happen. To date we have secured R345 000, leaving a shortfall of R282 000."

He asked that businesses and residents please contribute to ensure the survival of the OCC. "Any contribution, however small, will help us get to the magic number."

OCC Event Director Alewijn Dippenaar 

Please, Min McKenzie?

Dippenaar will also direct an appeal for a government sponsorship to the national Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Gayton McKenzie.

"The OCC is the only event in South Africa exclusively focused on disabled wheelchair athletes. The importance of the OCC for wheelchair athletes cannot be stressed enough.

"The event is one of a kind and plays an extremely important role in the world of athletes with disabilities. This year is extra special as it will be the 21st challenge - a coming of age for this iconic event."

What would Esther Watson say?

The OCC was founded in 2002 by the late Esther Watson, an occupational therapist who worked with the disabled - her life's mission - and for which she was named South Africa's Woman of the Year in 2006. 

The race was initially held in the Outeniqua Pass, making for many exciting and dangerous downhill twists and turns, but then moved to the CBD for safety reasons.

In 2019 the OCC was awarded the Western Cape Premier Award as the best event in the province.

International sportsman, Ernst van Dyk, was a regular OCC participant and other big names include Pieter du Preez, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Watson started the wheelchair race to restore the dignity of disabled people and to show South Africans that disabled people contribute just as much to society as any other person. 

In 2006 Shoprite, Checkers and SABC 2 chose Watson as their South African Woman of the year. 

She died of leukaemia on 29 November 2013, having made an indelible imprint on many lives - both on the disabled and able bodied.

Sponsorship cuts

A few years ago the OCC took a financial knock when the Airports Company of South Africa cancelled its sponsorship. Last year the OCC suffered another huge blow when George Municipality informed them in July that it is cutting its sponsorship of the 2025 OCC by more than 75%.

In 2024 the municipality provided all its services, to the tune of R141 000, free of charge, and gave a further R300 000 cash. This year's municipal sponsorship is R100 000 in total, meaning that the OCC has to make up R341 000.

Municipal communication manager Chantèl Edwards said the municipality strives to support a range of events, and in the 2024/25 fiscal year, more than 50 event applications were received.

"Twenty nine of these events were selected for varying amounts ranging from R5 000 up to R50 000."

R1m for events

Edwards said just over R1m was allocated for events, most of which bring a return on investment through accommodation, restaurants and activities in the area. 

"Although the OCC is more of a social, feel-good event, it was considered that it is a unique event, and so was selected as one of only two events to receive the full R100 000 capped amount." The R100 000 includes services such as traffic services, waste management and electrical services.

Edwards said the other event getting R100 000 is the Mountain Ultra Trail.

The municipality has supported the OCC with more than R7m over 20 years, with Acsa being the headline sponsor for two years.

"Regrettably, the cancellation of the event is due to the Disabled Road Race Foundation not being able to secure additional sponsors," Edwards said shortly after the cancellation was announced.

Where are the sponsors?

Dippenaar says this year, smaller local businesses contribute R60 000, the WC Premier's office R50 000 and the WC Department of Culture and Sport R65 000. 

The private sector also sponsors the event in kind to the  value of R300 000 supplying free water points, media coverage by George Herald newspaper and its online platforms, airtime on radio, marshals, stands, gift packs and much more. 

Up to 500 volunteers give their services free of charge.

 Many businesses also enter the fun kaskar race in a show of support. This year, private service providers will also be asked to lower the cost for things like tents, timekeeping, transport and toilets. Other costs that need to be covered include essentials such as prize money, meals and the medical team.

Corporate responsibility

Dr Dennis Farrell of the Business Café made an appeal to corporate companies to come to the party. 

"National retailers and banks make millions in George. What is their local corporate social investment? What percentage of profits is ploughed back into George? Surely they have a moral responsibility to support an iconic race like the OCC?"

To help keep the OCC alive, contact OCC event director and member of the board of directors of DRRF/OCC, Alewijn Dippenaar, at dyndev@mweb.co.za or on 082 457 5675.

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