The OCAL2018 Route

On the 10th May 2018, a team of 12 ordinary people (11 runners and a hand cyclist) will do something EPIC; they will take on an incredible non-stop, 24 hour journey that spans 2,200 km over a 10 day period. The journey will start in Tshwane (Pretoria) making its way through the Kalahari, hug the border of Namibia, the Cederberg Mountains and will culminate at the start line of the FNB 12 OneRun in Cape Town on the 20th May 2018, this being the third OCAL Global’s annual Journey For Change initiatives to challenge and change the perception around disability.

The new team will no doubt face extreme challenges on their journey – from sore bodies and self-doubt to soaring temperatures and driving rains – but in their darkest hours, they will endure, knowing that their efforts will not be in vain.

The OCAL 2018 JOURNEY FOR CHANGE is not only being run to raise awareness around “disability”, but will also be raising funds for “Differently Abled” children in the Northern Cape. In October 2017, OCAL founder, Nicolene Anley had an eye opening experience in the Northern Cape which has the highest prevalence of persons with disabilities in South Africa (11%).

In her time spent in those local communities the harsh reality was realised of just HOW little to no support there is for mentally and physically differently abled kids in the rural communities of the Pixley area of the Northern Cape.

Beneficiary

OCAL Global has over the past 6 months done extensive research and feasibility studies in the Northern Cape with the view that together with strategic partners create, build and maintain a fully operational, sustainable LSEN school with boarding facilities and skills development initiatives for differently abled kids in the Northern Cape. All these children have physical disabilities most commonly resulting from Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, amputations, genetic syndromes, spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries. We have currently Identified 133 both mentally and physically differently abled children from the following local Municipalities; Emthanjeni (38), Siyathemba (44) and Renosterberg (51), all funds raised during the OCAL2018 Journey for Change (Phase 1) will be used to purchase in consultation with our occupational therapist partners, wheel chairs, walkers, crutches and their immediate mobility and their day-to-day living needs.

We will continue to look for funding and partners to continue making a sustainable long term change in the lives of these most vulnerable, precious children.

OCAL2018 Team