When event organiser extraordinaire Alewijn Dippenaar takes up the mic, his audience knows they’re in for a treat. This was the case again on Monday morning 2 June, when businesses and individuals involved in keeping alive the Outeniqua Chair Challenge (OCC) dream gathered at The Apprentice for a memorable Breakfast of Champions bash.
In attendance were a majority of sponsors that collaborated and contributed funds, goods and services to ensure that OCC ‘25 could be staged for the 21st time on 15 March 2025. Also present to share stories and accolades were representatives of local, regional and provincial government bodies that play a pivotal role in the event’s continued success.
The OCC’s Impact on George and Beyond
Among the day’s many speakers, George councillor Melvin Roelfse may have said it best when claiming that the event’s impact could hardly be expressed in a mere few sentences. “The OCC celebrates adversity and overcoming challenges, and its impact on our town and country, as well as on a global scale, is simply immeasurable.
“As a municipality, we try to make George more accessible to all residents through measures at traffic lights and libraries, for instance. But nothing comes close to the impact made by the OCC, and I thank Alewijn and his team for truly understanding the needs of disabled,” said Roelfse.
Dippenaar thanked Garden Route District Municipality – led by executive mayor, Andrew Stroebel – for its continued support. Other Western Cape government bodies involved DECAS (Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport), and the Western Cape Premier’s Department.
Eden Sport Council chair Desmond Speelman pointed out that “the event does not happen in isolation” and this sentiment was echoed by Juan Neethling from DECAS, who clearly remembers when late OCC founder Esther Watson first came pitching the idea of a wheelchair race in George, back in 2002. “Today, there are 40 major events for us to consider, but the OCC is always first to be allocated funding,” he said.
Business Community Rallies Behind the Cause
Garden Route District Municipality councillor Marais Kruger also shared memories of those early OCC years, when he was a youngster with a father serving at George Municipality. “Dad explained to me the importance of volunteers, and impact the event has on the town’s economy and tourism.”
Representatives of the OCC’s main business sponsors – Garden Route Mall, Master Cargo, Lancewood, Safari, Carpe Diem School and iX – all graced the stage to motivate their allegiance to the cause. Concepts that featured frequently was the sense of “community and collaboration” created by the event. Bar support from these businesses, mention must be made that more than 60 other enterprises support the OCC in different ways.
Dippenaar paid tribute to these businesses, acknowledging that they were inundated with requests for funding each year. “But please don’t stop making us top of your list! Apart from your financial support, it’s always special to see teams from sponsors big and small cheering on OCC participants on the side of our different race routes.”
He reminded that, set back by the Covid pandemic, they had to come up with new ideas to lure business participation. “We asked the Africa Skills team under director Elsie Harmse to build 20 ‘kaskarre’. At first just a handful of teams took up the kaskar challenge, but this year 18 businesses joined in the fun and through their participation, contributed R100,000 to the OCC.”
Dippenaar paid tribute to the media houses that once again supported the event, saying that unlike the norm, they collaborate rather than compete: “The SABC team ensured that we got national airtime, while Algoa FM reached a vast audience in both the Eastern and Western Cape, while Eden FM spread to local listeners.”
Instrumental in publicising the need for funding of OCC ‘25 was editor at large of Group Editors publications, Ilse Schoonraad – author of the George Herald front-page splash that guaranteed the event’s staging this year: “The OCC brings out the best in people and forms and an integral part of our town, so we couldn’t let it die,” she said.
Schoonraad’s ‘OCC SOS’ report was noticed by the team at Garden Route Mall early on that January morning of publication, and they immediately contacted Dippenaar to pledge their support. On Monday, GRM marketing manager Tumi Masango was on hand to motivate their decision: “It’s not about the money; the OCC promotes inclusivity and will receive our support for years to come,” she said.
The occasion also served as opportunity to pay tribute to the late Esther Watson, and her husband Laurence noted that, albeit she was lovingly known as ‘The General’ for her fierce championing of the race, “she surrounded herself by beautiful people who made a difference. When I look around me today, this is still the case,” he said.
Celebrating OCC Champions and Supporters
Throughout proceedings, George local Shaun Butler – chairman of the Disabled Road-race Foundation, star athlete, and one of the subjects in a book entitled ‘Only Good Things: celebrating 100 feel-good SA stories of 2024’ – was on hand to welcome OCC champions on stage. The uplifting publication made up part of some of the supporters’ prize booty.
After the dishing out of commemorative plaques, books and goodie bags, Dippenaar had the last word when explaining why everyone present was also gifted with a spekboom. “These trees are famous for taking all toxicity out of the air and returning it as pure oxygen. This is symbolic of what the OCC does for our national and continental disabled community.”
After all was said and done, everyone relished the lavish Breakfast of Champions, prepared by Johannes and his Apprentice team, using the special get-together to reminisce about Outeniqua Chair Challenge ’25 and looking forward to its bright future.
