Hout Bay teacher laces up for a cause close to her heart

"I might not be able to contribute financially, but I can absolutely put one foot in front of the other — again and again — and help raise awareness in the process."

So says Janice Grant, a Hout Bay pre-school teacher preparing to take on the Cableway Charity Challenge, which has been running since 2009 and is now in its 16th year.

Ms Grant recently joined a Rotary Hout Bay meeting and was introduced to the organisation called Funda Kunye.

"As a teacher, I know just how critical those early years are, and it’s deeply reassuring to know that organisations like Funda Kunye are stepping in to support children, giving them a strong foundation for when they start school," Ms Grant said.

After she found out that Funda Kunye had been selected as one of the beneficiaries for the Cableway Charity Challenge, she wanted to join immediately.

"I said yes without even blinking. It combines two of my favourite things: running (or in this case, enthusiastic mountain crawling) and supporting local causes that matter," she said. 

"I also think it’s important to set an example for the children I teach — that being active, spending time in nature, and giving back to the community are all valuable."

The event, which takes place on Saturday May 10, was started by Anton and Brigitte de Waal, to assist impoverished communities with educational assistance. It was initially run by volunteers who fall under the umbrella of the JDI Foundations initiative.

However, as of 2025, the event will be run by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC), assisted by volunteers from the JDI initiative as well as the team from Wildrunner. 

“We wanted to give participants a unique token of appreciation this year,” says Selma Hercules, executive director of TMACC. “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.” 

Beginning as a 1-day race for athletes fit enough to do multiple laps in a day, the event morphed into a nine-day event as a result of the Covid pandemic, where a community of walkers, hikers, trail runners and day trippers participate – all with the aim of challenging themselves for a good cause. In 2024, the event returned to the one-day format of pre-Covid years.

The first year saw a field of 50 runners raise just over half a million rand. In 2024 the field comprised of 199 participants who collectively completed 716 laps and raised just over R1.27 million for the chosen beneficiaries.

Ms Grant said she might not be 100% as prepared, but will rely heavily on her road running training to help her get through the challenge.

"If I’m being totally honest — I’m not as prepared as I probably should be! I’ve been relying mostly on my usual road running training and regular pilates to keep me strong, and I’ve managed to squeeze in two practice sessions up Constantia Nek."

"I’m really hoping that’s enough to carry me through," she said, crossing her fingers.

The adventurous teacher said much of the challenge is a "mental game".

"I think once you’ve committed to it, you just have to show up, keep moving, and let your mindset do the heavy lifting when your legs start to protest. I’ve done tougher things than I thought I could in the past, so I’m trusting that this will be one of those 'dig deep and surprise yourself' moments," she said.

The challenge itself involves completing as many laps as possible up Platteklip Gorge in one day. You sign up with a goal in mind — Ms Grant has committed to doing two laps, but said that if her body and brain are "still on speaking terms after that", she might attempt a third.

"Either way, just being part of this incredible event is the real win as well as the incredible support from family, friends and Hout Bay's amazing community," Ms Grant said.

This year’s challenge supports a group of beneficiaries, including Funda Kunye, Ubuntu Football, Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), and for the first time, the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS).

Ms Grant is a proud Hout Bay resident, who said: "This little seaside gem has had my heart for about 15 years, even though I did sneak away briefly before being drawn back. Teaching is where I feel most at home, especially working with young children who keep life full of laughter, surprises, and lots of glitter."

Outside the classroom, she is a part-runner, part artist, "wannabe" bookworm, and full-time "coffee snob".

"I firmly believe that a flat white can fix almost anything. Throw in a sunny brunch, mimosas, and some good conversation, and you’ve got my perfect weekend," she laughed.

She is also completely obsessed with traveling and trying new things — whether it’s jetting off to a far-flung place or finding a new trail just outside of town.

"I tend to say yes to things that scare me a little (or a lot), which is probably how I ended up climbing a mountain multiple times for charity. Life is short, the world is big, and I plan on soaking up every bit of it I can," Ms Grant said.

Last year’s event raised over R1.2 million. This year, the goal is to match or surpass that milestone.

Whether it’s R100 or R1 000, anybody is able to contribute. Visit www.charitychallenge.co.za.