SPORTING greats like Natalie du Toit, Chad Ho, Derek Watts, Bruce Fordyce, Martin Dreyer, Michelle Eray and Kevin Evans will all be in action in the annual Sabrina Love Ocean challenge in Plettenberg Bay on December 27 and 28.

Chris Crewdson, of organisers Magnetic South, said yesterday: “From its humble beginnings six years ago when a group of locals got together to do an ocean swim, the event has expanded into a two-day sporting extravaganza, allowing people no matter how fit or competitive to take part in a range of sporting events.

“Entry fees go 100% to the Sabrina Love Foundation, which assists children with physical disabilities in Bitou.”

Participants in day one will have the choice of a 10km run, a 15km surf-ski, a 6km ocean swim or a 5km beach walk.

Registration takes place on December 26 at the Beacon Isle Hotel.

On day two, competitors can choose from a range of new events, including a one-mile swim in the Keurbooms River, a 25km mountain bike race or the Kids of Steel Duathlon for six-to-10-year-olds.

Participants can register on December 27 at Beacon Isle.

Crewdson said the hub for the first day’s events would be Central Beach, with the CapeNature grounds opposite Avontura on the Keurbooms River forming the hub for the second day.

He said live entertainment would be provided by the Plett Field Band.

The Sabrina Love Foundation, in conjunction with Belgian NGO Dreamcatcher, set up Die Sterreweg day care centre in New Horizons, Plettenberg Bay. The centre caters for children, mainly from disadvantaged backgrounds, who need specialised individual attention and stimulation, and appropriate therapy depending on the level of their disability.

Sterreweg manager Lindelwa Mnweba said the centre looked after 23 children and had a staff complement of eight. She said the Sabrina Love Foundation provided financial support towards the running of the centre.

“We have an occupational therapist who comes in for three hours twice a week. We want to increase that next year,” she said.