George, Garden Route (March 2025) - The story of how generous donors jumped in to keep this year’s Outeniqua Chair Challenge (OCC) on track has been widely recorded, and main sponsors such as Garden Route Mall and the Western Cape Government have been lauded for ensuring that this unique George event will take place for the 21st time on 15 March 2025.
With two weeks to go ‘til race day, it’s now time to look forward to welcoming dozens of serious athletes and scores of their fun-minded counterparts to the ‘hood. OCC veterans over the years include Paralympic medallists Ernst van Dyk and Pieter du Preez, as well as acclaimed athletes such as Stuart McCreadie and local hero Shaun Butler.
South African connoisseurs of the sport will again recognise some of its stars at the starting line. But also significant is that the OCC attracts famous hand-cyclists and wheelchair racers from other parts of the continent – and this year is no exception. Among these count athletes from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.
Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe has represented Team Ghana at three consecutive Paralympics: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012. This gentle champion of disabled sport has participated in the OCC marathon on seven previous occasions, so this year will mark his eighth tour on the George track.
“As a wheelchair racer, I try competing in many events across the board and the OCC marathon has been one of my calendar highlights for many years. Starting in 2015, I won a silver medal at my first Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge and then proceeded to win gold,” says Raphael.
“I’m looking forward to taking part in the 42km full marathon again and God willing we’ll be able to arrive safely in South Africa two days before the event. After travelling it’s good to have a day or two to adjust to the weather and ensure your chair is prepared for local conditions.”
Raphael is the founder of Gogetdem Wheelchair Racing, and through the Accra-based club aims to give back to young para-athletes keen to develop their skills. This year he will be accompanied by two fellow racers representing Team Ghana.
“It is a great event that we have embraced from the start, helped along by the friendly people of George – be they accommodation suppliers, volunteers, or event organisers. We love coming back every year to raise our flag, promote unity, make new friends and connect with old ones. I invite everyone in George to come and cheer us on!”
Jessie Mouton lives in Windhoek and volunteers as an administrator at the Namibia Paralympic Committee. It will be her first time attending the OCC, “but I have been to George before, so I know the beautiful area!”
She will be in charge of five male athletes planning to participate in various categories of this year’s race, and says they are hoping to involve female Paralympic athletes in future. “Our plan is to travel from 11 March. We still have transport challenges and await feedback from our sponsors, but we remain positive.”
Wilson Nyakoko is the technical advisor to Wheelchair and Hand-cycle Racers of Zimbabwe. “My team is still working on budget issues, since each athlete needs R5,500 for travel, accommodation and food, plus funds for the repair of wheelchairs and hand-cycles, where necessary,” he explains.
If it all works out, Wilson’s team of six male and five female athletes, all entered in either the marathon or half-marathon, will include: Elford Moyo, 58; Munyaradzi Katiyo, 51; Thandiwe Ndlovu, 52; Morleen William Ali, 21; Stellah Jongwe, 22; Ratidzo Tomu, 52; Samson Muroyiwa, 37; Margret Bangajena, 48; Moleen Majoni, 46; Previous Wiri, 38; and Godknows Dziripi, 29.
Wilson – who is self-employed and based in Chitungwiza, an hour’s drive from Harare – says except for Godknows Dziripi, all athletes representing Team Zimbabwe have participated in the OCC before, so they know what to expect and look forward to. The tourers will leave Zim on 11 March and arrive in George on the 13th.
Finally, from Botswana, racer Louis Moffat plans to compete in the OCC marathon (2BC) on Saturday 15 March.
Race director Alewijn Dippenaar says this year’s 5km fun event will be free for local participants, and he invites young and old to join in the name of community spirit. “The professional races over 10km, 21.1km and 42.2km attract world-class athletes, and this combination of fun and pro participants makes our George event a true flagship event for SA para-cyclists.”
Presented by the Disabled Road Race Foundation, OCC 2025 is also supported by Master Cargo, Lancewood, Safari, Garden Route District Municipality, George Herald, AlgoaFM, and iX. Visit www.outeniquachairchallenge.co.za for more information and contact Alewijn Dippenaar on 082 457 5675 or at dyndev@mweb.co.za to contribute.
Press release on behalf of the Disabled Road Race Foundation:
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mimi finestone | mimi@gojipr.net | +27 84 583 3144
