George Airport
The town of George lies halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on South Africa’s ever-popular Garden Route. With more and more visitors travelling to the region, George Airport now handles over 600,000 passengers annually.
Add to this more than 1000 athletes with disabilities, an overnight relay and 67 beds across a pediatric and neonatal ward, and only then will you have an idea of what a year as a member of the Airports Company South Africa, George Airport’s Socio- Economic Development team is like. Six time winner of the South African Airport of the Year award, George Airport sponsors the annual Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC). This year’s 15th edition witnessed people with disabilities from all over South Africa and abroad race along the streets of George. This has become a pioneering event in South Africa for previously disadvantaged and disabled athletes, as well as all disabled persons who grab the opportunity to take part in a major sporting event that recognises them as athletes with dignity. As such, the OCC is not only an event for top, world class wheelchair athletes but more importantly, gives the ordinary person in a wheelchair the opportunity to achieve something very special for him or herself.
The event which started out in 2002 with only 27 athletes, has grown to more than 1000 athletes taking part in four different categories of races. The CANSA Relay for Life is an annual overnight event held in honour of all people who have survived cancer and to pay tribute to those who have lost the battle against it. The Relay for Life is also used as an opportunity to raise much needed funds for the cancer organisation. The George Airport “WINX” team took part in the event for the third year and made a donation to the Cancer Association of South Africa.
As its contribution to looking after the community’s well-being, George airport has partnered with George Hospital by supporting them in providing essential medical services to the community. George Hospital is the most well resourced hospital in the Eden and Klein Karoo districts, with a combined population of approximately 660 000 people, which means that it services the majority of the surrounding communities.
Through the partnership, George Airport has supported the hospital with furniture for the new children’s ward. This includes an improved Mother’s Lodge as patients and caregivers often come from afar with no place to stay, except at the hospital.
The George Airport Social Economic Development team is living proof of how partnering with your community can effect positive change.