On Sunday, climbers from all over the Cape (and beyond) will tackle Platteklip Gorge as many times as their bodies can handle for a big cause as part of the annual Cableway Charity Challenge. Massively, the pledges have already surpassed the R1 million mark. Meaningfully, there’s a new upcycled medal for racers to look forward to!
Cape Town, South Africa (09 May 2025) — Sunday 11 May marks a big day on the climbers’ calendar. It’s the annual Cableway Charity Challenge in which racers will tackle Platteklip Gorge as many times as they can to inflict positive change, boost pledges and don a upcycled medal packed with meaning at the end of it all.
The upcycled medal is an exciting addition to the challenge. This year, each finisher will receive a medal that’s been crafted from the retired track rope cable once used by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, their own piece of lasting cableway history. The track rope cable has been cut up into discs by residents of The Ark City of Refuge (a Cape Town-based organisation supporting people impacted by homelessness and unemployment).
As such, the medal is extra meaningful; representing both second chances for materials and people all while embodying notes of resilience, dignity and communal purpose.
Executive Director of TMACC, Selma Hercules says that the team wanted to share a unique token of appreciation with participants this year.
“We chose something that was a reflection of the event and of the strength of the mountain. It also was a reminder of the power of the hands of local makers that went into the making of the medals, and of the impact of the money raised on the day.”
This year, the Cableway Charity Challenge is supporting a host of causes. Pledges have already surpassed the R1 million mark. However, sights are set on matching last year’s pledges (over R1.2 million) or pledging even more.
The causes supported are:
Ubuntu Football (in which young people are mentored through sport and life-skills development), Funda Kunye (who help early childhood development in under-resourced areas), Volunteer Wildfire Services (the team who help firefighters and protect natural heritage) and Wilderness Search and Rescue (the brave network of volunteers who ensure mountain rescues are possible and accessible).
“The support we receive through the Charity Challenge helps us build stronger, more nurturing foundations for children at the most critical stage of their development,” says Funda Kunye’s Karen Temlett.
Echoes Johann Marais of WSAR, “People come to the mountain for joy and adventure…when things go wrong, we’re there, and it’s support like this that ensures we can always be.”
Even if you aren’t racing for the cause and the upcycled medal moment, you can still make a pledge to the mission here.
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