Esther Watson, gsport's 2007 August Woman , and organizer of the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge, is promising that next year's Challenge, will be "bigger and better than ever before".

The 2008 edition which takes place on 16 February 2008 and Watson is expecting a record-breaking number of entries. Entries close on 30 January 2008

The Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge has been staged successfully during the past three years, growing from its humble beginnings of only 27 entries in 2002 (then known as the Outeniqua Chair Challenge - OCC) to the magnificent race attracting 430 participants in 2007!

The Challenge is not only unique as being the first and only event exclusively for the disabled in South Africa, but it is staged in the picturesque town of George, in the heart of the spectacular Garden Route in the Western Cape, situated at the foot of the splendour of the Outeniqua Mountains.

Athletes in racing wheelchairs, CP Tricycles, hand cycles, basketball chairs and ordinary wheelchairs have made this into the premier sporting event for the disabled on the South African sporting calendar. It undoubtedly has the potential to develop into one of the best events of its kind in the world!

gsport managed to catch up with Esther to find out more about next year's Challenge.

How is your planning going?

The planning is going full speed now, the entry forms were sent out two weeks ago, the online entries opened from 1 Oct 2008 on www.georgeocc.co.za and all the flyers have been send out electronically to the International athletes and websites.

We have secured two special celebrities for the next event namely Hilton Langehoven, a Blind albino world record holder in Long jump. He is also part of the preliminary group for Paralympics in Beijing 2008 as well as the well known TV presenter (Pasella) Charlene Truter. They will both push a child in a buggy in the Fun event.

We still have a couple of famous people in negotiation, but that can only be announced later in November.

What do you enjoy most about organising this race?

Organization is hard work, and most certainly not always enjoyable, but the best part is when I set the athletes off, when I see a year's work come to fulfillment and realize... this is it!!!... and when the last athlete safely crosses the finish line, that's when I know, I will do it again, I will gladly take on the challenges of accessible accommodation, accessible transport, accessible venues.....!

Fact that, it is the most rewarding thing to see how a 92 year old lady throw her hands in the air as if she has just won the world's greatest race... while she actually was just being pushed in a fun event, the smile on a child's face and refusal to take the medal off for the next week and to see the world's best elite racers wheel themselves up and down the streets of my  city and that I can marvel in their strength, their talent, their courage and endurance!.

BUT: WHAT I ENJOY MOST, IS WORKING WITH MY DEDICATED TEAM, ALL LADIES WITH FULL TIME JOBS, BUT WITH BOTTOMLESS ENERGY AND HUGE DRIVING FORCE.

When the going gets tuff... they call me the "general" but we pull it off - every year - and I can not do without them.

What has been the feedback from previous participants?

I will give you a couple of quotes:

"This race is one of the best organized racing events in the world - You have perfected it, I wish more will come and learn from you" Ernst van Dyk elite Paralympic winner, one of the world's best and winner of prestigious Laureus award for disabled persons in 2006

"I will come every year, even if it is far" 10 km participant from Thohoyandou (Limpopo)

"You won the woman of the year award, but you were always our woman of the year, I can not believe you care so much for us" 21.1km athlete from Cape Town

"I think you thrive on adrenaline, that's why every year is a success... I can not believe to how much trouble you went and how much detail you made sure are in place" Krige Schabort - South African Living in Atlanta USA and also Paralympic teammate.

Who are your sponsors this year?

The 2008 Outeniqua wheelchair Challenge (OCC) is presented by Vodacom and Parmalat SA. Avis committed as official transport sponsor till 2010, with a couple of other smaller sponsors acting as service or suppliers sponsors. The George Municipality is once again the Host City and provide most of the logistical support.

How many people entered last year and how many participants can you cater for this year?

A Record number of 430 athletes and participants lined up in 2007 for the marathon, half marathon, 10km and Fun event. We expect to break this record and are preparing for 500 entries!

Do you have a particular theme for next year's race?

Yes, the organizing committee not only want to create a stepping stone for persons with disabilities to take part in a race/event of their choice, no matter what their disability or level of participation, we strive every year to also give hope, inspiration and motivation to all the athletes! Previous slogans were; "Winners train and Losers complain" and "Trust your hopes and not your fears"

For 2008 we have a brand new slogan namely: "Just go for it"

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