Teams conquer challenges for Glen Anil baby home

RESIDENTS donned their best fancy dress outfits at this weekend’s obstacle-course racing (OCR) fundraiser for The Baby Home.

Redwood College in La Lucia played host to Conquer, a fun non-timed obstacle-course race (OCR) team event where the emphasis was on fun, teamwork and helping each other overcome obstacles, all for a good cause.

The event was inspired by Grace Family Church pastor Tom Basson, who earlier this year, set out to raise funds for the World’s Highest Obstacle Course Race and World’s Highest Marathon (42km event).

His hope was to raise R180 000, with any amount over that overall goal going towards various causes, including The Baby Home in Glen Anil.

The home partnered with Adventure Obstacle Training (AOT) for the fundraising event, which saw more than R14 000 raised.

Jo Teunissen, who runs the baby home, said she was blown away by the support.

“This will definitely be the first of many Conquer events,” she said. “It was a resounding success, and people dressed up and worked as teams to overcome obstacles, which symbolically, was what the event was all about. We had 27 teams enter and the atmosphere was electric; it was like a big party actually. We are so grateful to the school, Trish and Claude Eksteen, who run AOT, and for all those who participated to make this such an amazing event,” she said.

For Trish Eksteen, the event was also about giving people a taste of OCR.

“When we were discussing this event and setting up the obstacles on the course, we wanted it to be for the everyday person. Something achievable and a way to show this is not just for elites. I think Jo [Teunissen] touched on it, but it was about how we can overcome daily obstacles if we work together. I would love to see this event as a permanent fixture on the calendar as a fundraiser, and we hope to see it grow from strength to strength,” she said.