A Belhar musician climbed Table Mountain on Saturday to raise funds for the Shumeez Scott Foundation (SSF), a Mitchells Plain-based organisation for Down Syndrome persons.
In March, SSF founder Bahia Janodien appealed for help to buy a vehicle to transport members who live all over Cape Town and Paarl.
Reader Christoffel Maneville, 33, read their story and decided to take action.
The saxophonist started a pledge line where mense could donate R200 toward the foundation and he would do a Table Mountain hike in return.
Cape Union Mart then spotted Christoffel’s story in the Daily Voice and in turn decided to sponsor him with a backpack and boots, while a reader supplied a face mask, and another sponsored a photoshoot.
Christoffel and eight friends tackled the mountain on Saturday and the SSF team welcomed them back at the lower deck of the cable car.
Christoffel tells the Daily Voice: “The climb was tough.
“When I reached the middle of the mountain, I wanted to give up, but I reminded myself why I'm doing the climb.
“The Shumeez Scott Foundation slogan came to my mind: if you can dream it, you can do it.”
Bahia said the hike ended minutes before iftar time and so the team broke their fast on the mountain and held a mass boeka.
“It was a beautiful sight, we kept track with him as he did the hike, as he came down to the ending point, the young adults were there to support him, clapping and cheering.
“As tired as he was, it lit him and his crew up when they saw the SSF cheering for them.”
She says they’ve managed to raise R3000 so far.
“We are grateful that Christoffel did this for us, we admire his efforts.”