Local charities thrive with R1.15 million from Cableway Charity Challenge

Four local charities have shared R1.15 million to expand services and impact in their communities, following this year’s Cableway Charity Challenge hosted by Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company on May 10.

On Tuesday, September 2, cheques were handed over to the following beneficiaries:

• Non-profit organisation Ubuntu Football Academy, which uses soccer as a tool to enhance holistic development, received R460 000.
• Funda Kunye, which means "learn together" in isiXhosa, is a small NPO based in Hout Bay, equipping teachers with the necessary early childhood development (ECD) skills and resources to enable them to provide quality early learning programmes to the children in their care for lifelong impact. They received R460 000;
• Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), which manages and executes appropriate responses for the purpose of searching for and the medical treating of and the rescue of people and or patients, received R115 000; 
• Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), the largest non-profit, volunteer-based firefighting organisation in South Africa, dedicated to combating dangerous wildfires in the Western Cape, received R115 000.

The event held in May saw athletes participate in a race of endurance race up and down Platteklip Gorge, while raising funds for local charities.

While public donations were still accepted for a time, the books have now closed and the final total calculated.

Representatives from the four organisations and from Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company were at the handover. 

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company managing director Wahida Parker said the initiative aims to support organisations in ensuring mountain safety and heritage protection. “We want to champion this initiative well into the future to equip these organisations to continue their important work,” she said.

Ms Parker highlighted Ubuntu Football Academy’s role in keeping youth engaged in sport and Funda Kunye’s contribution to early childhood education.

Ms Parker said Ubuntu Football Academy drives youth off the streets and involves them in sport. 

"We firmly support the adage that 'a child in sport is a child out of court'. 

"We also supported Funda Kunye this year. They are involved in early childhood development and empowering people to drive initiatives to educate children. 

"We all know the way to redress some of the historical injustices is through education," she said.

Olivia Caffery, VWS firefighter, said the donation would be used for uniforms, vehicles, and equipment." As a volunteer organisation, funding is essential for us to get into the mountains and fight fires," she said. 

David Nel, rescuer and media liaison for WSAR, said this charity challenge was one of their biggest fundraisers. "We want to thank the organisers to the athletes, and the cableway company. Funds like this make a huge impact and will go a long way in ensuring that our teams of volunteers will continue providing, what is at times a life-saving service to the outdoor communities of the Western Cape," he said. 

Miché Nicholas, fundraising manager for Ubuntu Football Academy, said it was a privilege to be a beneficiary. 

"Last year, we added four girls as a pilot project to our academy. We've just done boys for the last 14 years, and this year we've even added 14 new girls and with that funds it helps us to create a bigger impact, to grow our communities and invest more into our learners," she said. 

Rachelle Tilney, from Funda Kunye, said they hoped to see their training and early learning programme productively implemented to make a long-term difference in the lives of the children in our communities, in their emotional, social, physical and spiritual development.