The annual Cableway Charity Challenge kicks off on 6 May. The nine-day long event will see professional athletes and amateur enthusiasts attempt to hike to the top of Table Mountain as many times as they can.
The Challenge is organised by The JDI Foundation, with the support of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company. In essence, athletes have from sunrise to sunset each day to hike up to the top of Platteklip Gorge before taking the cable car back down, to start the ascent again.
A special Race Day forms part of the Challenge week, when corporate and school teams take part in tackling the gorge.
“This is the 14th edition of the Cableway Challenge. The first event in 2009 had 50 runners help raise around half a million rand. Eventually, the challenge grew in leaps and bounds and last year we had 135 participants help us raise just over a million rand,” says Tracy le Roux, spokesperson for the event organiser The JDI Foundation.
This year’s Table Mountain Charity Challenge will raise funds for:
Abalimi Bezekhaya (meaning farmers of the home in isiXhosa) – This is a non-profit urban-farming organization, established in 1982, that supports individuals and groups from disadvantaged communities in Cape Town through providing facilitation and training on organic food production for nutrition, health, food security and income generation.
Funda Kunye – Their aim is to promote the holistic development and education of vulnerable, young babies and children in the Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg areas of Hout Bay.
Mother City Kitchen – They support non-profit organisations in specific impoverished community groups throughout Cape Town. Ultimately, this is done by donating mass produced nutritious soup and other meals.
“We are proud to be a part of this incredible event again at our beautiful New 7Wonders of Nature site. What excites me most about this event is seeing the mix of super-fit professional athletes rub shoulders with ordinary fans of the mountain as they all work towards a common goal. Every ascent and every rand raised, makes a difference,” says Wahida Parker, Managing Director of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company.
“We had already received pledges of more than R600 000 with less than a week to go to the event. It looks like the 2023 Cableway Challenge will be a huge success thanks to the wonderful runners and hikers who keep showing their support,” says Le Roux.
The Cableway Challenge is organised by the JDI Foundation, a charitable organisation that helps local community projects needing support. More info about how to support the event or even take part, at https://jdi.org.za/ and https://charitychallenge.co.za/
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has been providing visitors with an enjoyable cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain for more than 90 years. More info at tablemountain.net.
Follow #cablewaycharitychallenge on social media channels for regular updates.
For more and similar events, click here.
