Wheelchair race calls for entrants
The OCC event is a way to raise awareness for people with physical disabilities.
ENTRIES are rolling in for the 2016 Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC) – a day of wheelchair racing that fills the streets of George with spectators as more than 1 000 athletes whizz along the route to the finish line.
This year, more than 19 Quadpara Association of South Africa (QASA) members from the Highway area will take part in the event on Saturday, 20 February in George.
The 2015 champions, the High Rollers, will be there in force to defend their hard-earned titles. Everyone and anyone with a physical disability is encouraged to participate and there are several different races that take place on the same day – a marathon (42.2km), half-marathon (21.1km), 10km race and the 5km fun event for those who just want to enjoy themselves.
OCC race organiser, Ansie Swart, said, “It is so much more than the R236 000 prize money that is up for grabs. What this event does for people with physical disabilities is to restore their dignity, gives people faith in their own ability, gives people a chance to feel human again and to get fit with a goal. And, of course, the OCC gives competitors the chance to have loads of fun and make new friends.”
Ansie, who has served on the OCC committee for the past six years, praised the OCC sponsors for their support. “The staunch and ongoing support of our main sponsor, George Airport (for the sixth year running) and the help of our other sponsors enables us to present the OCC event, assist disadvantaged athletes with travel, provide meals, accommodation, prizes and all the other aspects that ensure the athletes’ safety and make the event a success.”
George Municipality has acted as host city for the OCC for the past 14 years, providing monetary and essential logistical support. With the safety of athletes the key objective, George Municipality assists by giving permission to close the entire route to traffic, with more than 130 volunteer George residents serving as marshals to assist the local traffic and law enforcement officials on the route.
On the day, more than 1 000 volunteers push participants in the fun event, hand out wheelchairs, prepare post-race meals and assist with ‘anything and everything’, said Ansie.
All OCC participants must be physically disabled and in a wheelchair for the duration of the race. Some wheelchairs are available to borrow, but these must be booked in advance on the entry form. A wheelchair may be a buggy, racing chair, hand cycle, rugby, basketball or tennis wheelchair or an ordinary wheelchair.
Entry forms can be faxed to 088 044 873 6766. Entries can also be done online at www.georgeocc.co.za. Further details, photographs and accommodation deals can be found on the web.
