GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — This past weekend, May 6 and 7, the Camdeboo Hospice hosted their annual Hobble and Hike for Hospice fundraising event.

The aim was to raise up to R100 000 in donations for the Camdeboo Hospice in Graaff-Reinet.

This year participants had the option of completing the 50km trek from the top of Ouberg to Nieu-Bethesda in either one or two days - the event was previously held as a two-day event only.

Early Saturday, May 6, a group of cyclists, runners and walkers set off at a chilly 6am to attempt the distance in one day.

The weather could not have been better, with a gentle breeze blowing and sufficient cloud cover to keep the walkers cool.

The cyclists finished in good time with some ladies running the whole 50kms!

Some of the novice walkers finishing way ahead of the more “experienced” ladies, and Riaan van der Merwe, one of the gentleman walkers, left the ladies in the dust and finished with a flourish.

All the walkers and runners met at the look-out point above Nieu-Bethesda at about 3pm to enjoy some refreshments and rehash the steep hills, blisters and discuss the various remedies for sore and tired legs, before walking into Nieu-Bethesda as a group and enjoying a braai and some beers.

Overall the one day Hobble and Hike event was a huge success, and the organisers sincerely hope to increase the number of participants in the years to come and make this an annual event on the Graaff-Reinet calendar. “To all the sponsors, who so kindly gave water, Energade, fruit, energy bars, t-shirts, caps and so much more - we cannot begin to thank you for being willing to contribute to this wonderful event,” said organiser Sharon Shell.

“We hope to see as many Graaff-Reinetters and indeed folk from all over South Africa, joining us next year.”

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