George, Garden Route (February 2026) - Participants in this year’s Outeniqua Chair Challenge (OCC26) have been training and testing their racing wheels in the run up to the 22nd chapter of this well-loved George event, set to take place on 21 February. 

With Carpe Diem School serving as race hub once again, the race features distances including a full marathon (42.2km), half-marathon (21.1km), as well as 10km and 5km routes. The kaskar race over 5km provide a super opportunity for businesses to participate and to show their support for the OCC.

Over the years, entrants have featured the crème de la crème of internationally lauded wheelchair racers, including the likes of multi-title marathon winner Ernst van Dyk and Paralympic podium finisher Pieter du Preez.

Other OCC stalwarts such as George local Shaun Butler – chairman of the Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRRF) – has not only mastered the art of chair racing but has put Mzansi on the global map through his achievements in the sport of bodybuilding.

Similarly multi-talented is Bloemfontein local Martin Ferreira, albeit claiming that his OCC participation is more for the love of the event than for racking up records. Perhaps it’s his ocean-based background that makes him take it all a little easier.

“Before the accident that altered my mobility 25 years ago, while I was studying in PE (now Gqeberha), wave skiing was my first love. When my career took me away from the coast, I couldn’t continue pursuing my passion for water sports.”

Fortunately, a serendipitous association with Durban-based Made For More – with its mission to include, equip and empower people with disabilities through community and sport – ensured his reconnection with the ocean.

“Made For More takes people into the sea for rehab therapy, so I got involved and was included in the 2022 world team invited to an international championship in California. The team comprised 14 athletes in different categories such as visually impaired, amputees, fully paralysed, and assisted surfing.

“Our South African team finished in the top five out of 28 participating countries; taking into account the high standard in that division, it was a performance that truly did the country proud.” As an aside, Martin mentions that he’d sustained an injury at the time that prevented him from participating in any sport for the next two years.

Tackling his first OCC in 2019, he has already done one 10km and three 21km routes in his racing chair, i.e. powered by push rims rather than the more popular choice of handcycling. Competing as an E12 paraplegic (category 54), Martin says he does it for training and enjoyment rather than regarding it as a competitive exercise.

“The OCC is the only race I consider doing, since my career doesn’t allow enough time to train seriously – I do short sessions of 3km to 8km maximum in preparation. More importantly, the OCC proves that you can actually do much more than you think you are capable of, so the mental aspect is extremely significant.

“On a practical level, I’ve learned that the start is of utmost importance – that first few meters are difficult to make up when everyone is already at speed.” Not being fast-tracked is Martin’s stay in George, since he plans to spend at least a week or two in the Southern Cape capital to coincide with OCC26.

Working in the fields of construction and the mining industry, his commercial work still leaves time for hobbies such as photography, droning, and riding quad bikes. Add to that a mission to manufacture affordable racing gloves through 3D printing, and it’s clear there’s hardly an idle moment in Mr Ferreira’s schedule.

Organisers thank main sponsors Garden Route Mall, George Municipality and AlgoaFM for their continued support; as well as the Western Cape Government, Master Cargo, Lancewood, Safari, Garden Route District Municipality, George Herald, and iX.

The OCC is a significant celebration of differently-abled accomplishments and overcoming challenge in the spirit of community and collaboration. It has been a favourite event on the SA sporting calendar for many years and participants are now encouraged to enter online.

At this year’s IRONMAN in Mossel Bay, Paul Kaye commented as follows: “The success is not in crossing the finish line, but the journey to get to  the starting line.”  This is even more true for OCC participants

Email dyndev@mweb.co.za if you would like to contribute in terms of funds, goods or services, or call OCC race director Alewijn Dippenaar on 082 457 5675 for additional information.