We are excited to announce that the annual Cableway Charity Challenge, will take place on Saturday, 10th May 2025. This marks the first time that Table Mountain Aerial Cableway will be hosting the event, being ably assisted by volunteers from the JDI Foundation as well as the team from Wildrunner.

The first event took place in 2009, and over the years it’s raised over R16 million for various beneficiaries focusing on education, health, environmental, and leadership projects. The event, started by Anton & Brigitte de Waal, to assist impoverished communities with educational assistance, has grown from strength to strength, becoming a unique Cape Town event not to be missed. In 2017, the JDI Foundation became involved with running the event alongside the de Waals.

The 2025 Challenge marks the 16th year of making a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable communities, especially women and children, in and around Cape Town.

This unique mass hiking event invites individuals, corporate teams, and school groups to ascend Platteklip Gorge as many times as they can between sunrise and sunset, all to raise funds for noble causes

Though Platteklip Gorge can be a gruelling ascent, with its seemingly endless winding stone steps, the Charity Challenge is a fun, social event, open to all, from elite runners to casual weekend adventurers. Participants get to experience wonderful camaraderie and enjoy the majestic vistas whilst making each step count for those who are less fortunate.

The Cableway Charity Challenge 2025 supports the following causes:

• Funda Kunye, who work to support Early Childhood Development efforts in Hout Bay;
• Ubuntu Football Academy, who holistically develop elite footballers towards becoming citizens of significance;
• Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) who has generously assisted us with emergency services, not only on challenge day but on a voluntary basis to the public throughout the year; and
• Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), who is run entirely by volunteers and forms an integral part of the Western Cape’s response to wildfires. Many of their members have bravely fought fires on the slopes of the mountain where the Cableway Charity Challenge takes place.

“Our goal is to raise R1 million in pledges, directly benefiting our 2025 nominated beneficiaries, who have a profound impact on their communities,” says Selma Hercules, TMACC’s Executive Director.

“We invite you to join us. Whether you sponsor a participant in your circle, or simply share the event with friends and family, your involvement can help us make a difference.”

Registration for previous participants opens on Monday, 20 January 2025, and for the public a week later, on Monday, 27 January 2025.

For more information, and to get involved, you can visit https://charitychallenge.co.za.