The Great Optimist Challenge 2024

The Great Optimist Challenge was a GREAT success, thanks to you!

Pretoria University

The Great Optimist Challenge kicked off with marketing students from PU using our challenge to complete their final practical assessment. The students entered 10 awesome challenges and raised over R40,000.00 for charity!

Splash for Support won the most FUN challenge, while Blue Break raised the most funds (R12,700.00) for their group of entrants.

The Great Optimist Race

Adults and children swarmed our stand at the Boatica show, all entering the challenge to qualify for the race or enter the lucky draw. Ten boats sailed in the race, with Joe Public skipper Andrew Jones taking first place. Elisa Falcon from Southern Wind took second, and our own Shane Joseph came in third, sailing the Italtile Optimist. The race weekend raised R110,575.00 for charity.

Home-school SUPER Stars

A group of home-schooled kids jumped at the opportunity to enter our challenge, challenging themselves to learn how to sail an Optimist dinghy in just one day. Twelve kids participated and raised R5,700.00 for charity. Arwa Ismail won the prize for the youngest challenger, just four years old! She and her family will be enjoying a weekend getaway, courtesy of Old Mac Daddy.

Most Money Raised by One Person

Tanya Bothma, a long-time friend and supporter of The Little Optimist, entered the challenge with the goal of raising money for transplant survivors at Groote Schuur Hospital, the same hospital where Tanya received her double lung transplant. With ongoing support from Spear Reit Properties, Tanya raised over R42,000.00! Thank you, Tanya, and enjoy your SUP board prize from Aqua Marina.

Most Challenging Challenge

Craig Cowan took on the rather optimistic challenge of running 30 km on New Year’s morning, 1 January 2025. Not only did Craig complete his challenge, but he also raised R3,000 for charity and went home with a Gravity Adventures voucher for two and an Ullman Gear kitbag. Well done, Craig! We can’t wait to see what you do for the 2026 challenge.

International Donors

A superyacht crew rode the Wine to Whales cycle race and raised funds for The Little Optimist Trust. They endured harsh conditions but powered through for the sake of the children.

All international donations amounted to over R205,000.00. Their generosity is remarkable, and we are very grateful.

Other Challenges

The Great Optimist Challenge had many entries, and we appreciate and acknowledge them all:

  • Tracy Bertish & Paul Stafford ran the UTCT race.
  • The Two Oceans Aquarium and Italtile Northgate Store hosted a ‘Sit in an Optimist for Charity’ event.
  • Funds were raised at the Kommetjie Festival.

We raised a total of R407,980.00 for charity!!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part and raise money for charity.