Laureus Challenge South Africa 2024 - 100km trek fundraising for Laureus Mental Health Fund
From surfing waves to climbing peaks; through wind, rain and blistering heat, fundraisers trekked for 100km across four unforgettable days in South Africa.
It started in the Cape Town surf under a golden sun, and ended in the rain and the mud around the foothills of Stellenbosch. For four days, the 2024 Laureus Challenge took a group of fundraisers across 100km: along coastal paths, over mountains and even through a river. There was extreme weather, sore feet - and even the occasional snake to contend with.
It was a challenge worthy of world-class athletes – and Laureus is powered by such people. Leading this party of adventurers were Jessica Ennis-Hill, a Laureus World Sports Academy Member and the 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion; Andrew Strauss, the former England cricket captain; Laureus World Sports Academy Member and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa chairman Bryan Habana; his fellow Rugby World Cup winner Schalk Brits, himself a Laureus Ambassador; the South African mountaineer Saray Khumalo, fellow South African Laureus Ambassadors Maps Maponyane and Dan Nicholl, and Laureus Ambassador, mountaineer, adventurer and campaigner Annabelle Bond, the organising force behind the Laureus Challenge.
It was a challenge worthy of world-class athletes – and Laureus is powered by such people. Leading this party of adventurers were Jessica Ennis-Hill, a Laureus World Sports Academy Member and the 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion; Andrew Strauss, the former England cricket captain; Laureus World Sports Academy Member and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa chairman Bryan Habana; his fellow Rugby World Cup winner Schalk Brits, himself a Laureus Ambassador; the South African mountaineer Saray Khumalo, fellow South African Laureus Ambassadors Maps Maponyane and Dan Nicholl, and Laureus Ambassador, mountaineer, adventurer and campaigner Annabelle Bond, the organising force behind the Laureus Challenge.
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At the climax of the Challenge, on Day Four, in howling wind and with rain coming down in sheets, the fundraisers experienced an unexpected river crossing. With the water flowing and the finish line still far off, guides waded into the river to form a chain, helping the Challengers over the stepping stones to the other side. It’s a snapshot that encapsulates much of what makes the Laureus Challenge so special: the combination of a unique camaraderie, and an unforgettable experience with the chance to fundraise for the Laureus Mental Health Fund, directly contributing to programmes across the world which use sport to meet mental health challenges among young people.
Before they set off on the trek, the Laureus Challengers had visited one such project.
9Miles is a community-based programme in Cape Town that uses surfing to engage and empower at-risk young children and youth. It was a chance for the participants of this year’s Challenge to experience the kind of work they would support when the hard yards (109,361 of them) began.
Before they set off on the trek, the Laureus Challengers had visited one such project.
9Miles is a community-based programme in Cape Town that uses surfing to engage and empower at-risk young children and youth. It was a chance for the participants of this year’s Challenge to experience the kind of work they would support when the hard yards (109,361 of them) began.
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"I cannot believe that we're done... 100km! Everyone's in great spirits, despite the fact we're all soaked and cold," Annabelle Bond said at the finish line, after a rain-filled final day. "It has been incredible bonding, the team spirit was awesome. This is so great, and we've raised money for a fantastic cause.
"I cannot thank everyone that has come and supported Laureus enough," the Laureus Ambassador continued.
"It means so much to me. Laureus is a cause that's so close to my heart, people have come from all over the world, and supported from all over the world with fundraising, so I can't thank everyone enough."
"I think the power of a Challenge like this is bringing a great group of people together and doing something really fantastic," said Jessica Ennis-Hill.
"It's been incredible; the views, the scenery has been stunning, but the thing for me is being able to speak to so many amazing people. We've had so many incredible conversations, and learned so much about all the amazing work that's being done."
"I cannot thank everyone that has come and supported Laureus enough," the Laureus Ambassador continued.
"It means so much to me. Laureus is a cause that's so close to my heart, people have come from all over the world, and supported from all over the world with fundraising, so I can't thank everyone enough."
"I think the power of a Challenge like this is bringing a great group of people together and doing something really fantastic," said Jessica Ennis-Hill.
"It's been incredible; the views, the scenery has been stunning, but the thing for me is being able to speak to so many amazing people. We've had so many incredible conversations, and learned so much about all the amazing work that's being done."
Each day of the trek began with a dawn alarm call – song requests came in from participants the night before and included Cher, Bruno Mars and, ahead of the final day’s push, Circle of Life.
Day One took the Challengers through the coastal pathways of the Cape Floral region, starting with a steep ascent and they were welcomed at the end of their first day by the children from Monteith Trust Training and Aftercare Centre. Even after a 25km trek, Bryan Habana had the energy to connect with these young people – they gathered round him as he demonstrated a drone camera that flew from his hand to film them.
“Each one of us has a responsibility towards the next generation. No one person can do it alone, as a collective, we all have a role to play. It's exciting for me to see that I'm part of a global movement, this Laureus movement. There's hope for the next generation because we are doing something about it."
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Day two took the Challengers through the beautiful Elgin Valley, before camping at the foot of Simonsberg mountain.
The next two days followed the mountainous terrain of the Hottentot-Holland Nature Reserve, before a wind-swept and drenched finale.
In terms of the achievements and memories, they will last well beyond the Challenge itself; the funds raised by the Challenge and every one of the participants, will be used to support the global network of Laureus’ grassroots programmes. Each one identified by Laureus as being able to grow, develop and make impact at greater scale with the support and mentorship of Laureus Sport for Good, impacting young lives well beyond the pain of blisters and the tiredness of 100km. The Laureus Challenge doesn’t end, it continues to change lives through the power of sport.
The next two days followed the mountainous terrain of the Hottentot-Holland Nature Reserve, before a wind-swept and drenched finale.
In terms of the achievements and memories, they will last well beyond the Challenge itself; the funds raised by the Challenge and every one of the participants, will be used to support the global network of Laureus’ grassroots programmes. Each one identified by Laureus as being able to grow, develop and make impact at greater scale with the support and mentorship of Laureus Sport for Good, impacting young lives well beyond the pain of blisters and the tiredness of 100km. The Laureus Challenge doesn’t end, it continues to change lives through the power of sport.
