Cableway Charity Challenge smashes its fundraising target

The 16th edition of the Cableway Charity Challenge showed again that people love supporting a good cause while at the same time enjoying the natural beauty of Table Mountain.

The fundraising target for this year was easily beaten, and more donations can still be pledged. 

“It was our honour to host this incredible event that challenges athletes to do their best while raising funds for worthy beneficiaries. We thank the 188 athletes who took part in the Challenge on Sunday,” said Selma Hercules, executive director for the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC). 

As in previous years, the event challenged participants to summit Table Mountain as many times as possible, between sunrise and sunset.

Runners and hikers made their way from the Lower Station up along Platteklip Gorge to the Upper Station, before enjoying a complimentary cable car ride to the bottom where it starts all over again. 

The Challenge was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, but inclement weather forced it to be moved to Sunday. 

On Sunday night, awards were handed out to the athletes who managed to finish the most number of laps. Defending champion AJ Calitz had another strong showing on the day but narrowly missed out on defending his crown. Vincent Buter finished nine laps of the course, although Calitz did scoop the King of the Mountain title with the fastest lap time of 39:33.

“There is a reason why I keep coming back to the event,” said Calitz at the prize-giving ceremony. “I have had the privilege of racing all over the world but this event is very close to my heart. This event brings tears to my eyes and I will be back as long as I can stand.” 

Supporters had the chance to pledge money for athletes and participants for the number of times they finished the course.

“The R1m overall target was reached before the event even started and by Sunday the total stood at just under R1,2m. We expect the number to grow even more as there is still time to make pledges,” said Ms Hercules. 

The funds raised at this year’s challenge will support: 

• Ubuntu Football, where young people are mentored through sport and life-skills development.
• Funda Kunye, which focuses on early childhood development in under-resourced areas.
• Volunteer Wildfire Services, a dedicated team of firefighters who depend heavily on community support to remain response-ready during fire season.
• Wilderness Search and Rescue, an organisation dedicated to keeping the mountain safe.

 A new – and very popular – element to this year’s event was a specially made commemorative medal. Each finisher received a medal made from the retired track rope cable once used by TMACC.

The rope was used for more than 20 years to move the cable cars up and down and have transported millions of passengers. It was removed during the annual maintenance shutdown that took place in 2024.  

The retired track rope cable has since been cut into discs by residents of The Ark – City of Refuge, a Cape Town-based organisation that supports people affected by homelessness and unemployment.

Donations and pledges can still be made via https://charitychallenge.co.za/