ABOUT THE CHALLENGE
WHAT:
You, your kids, your friends, your family, your school, or your business team – take on any CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY!
WHEN:
You choose! Any day between 15 October and 31 December 2024. (Apply for a special flexi-date option for set-date challenges.)
HOW:
Anyone can participate in any challenge, anywhere, in any way! Help us show the world how LITTLE people can do HUGE things. Float in a boat, run a race, climb a mountain, cycle your tricycle, swim an ocean, or paddle in your pool… Do it for 30 minutes, do it for a day, do it for charity, and for a cause you believe in!
OPTION 1: Charity Challenge
Anyone, any challenge, any location, any way – for charity. Sail, cycle, sit, run, climb, swim, or float! Tell us what challenge you want to undertake for charity, and if you’d like to support any other charity as well.
Raise funds by getting your friends, family, and network to donate and support you. Send us a photo or video of you completing your challenge and challenge others to take on a challenge for charity too. (Post on social media and go BIG!)
Be creative, be different – do any challenge and raise any amount, all while having FUN for charity! Whether it’s cycling a tricycle, swimming a stream, doing push-ups, or performing paddle jumps, the choice is yours!
OPTION 2: Optimist Boat Challenge
Sail, sit, or float in a pool, the ocean, a lake, or even your garden – in an Optimist Children’s boat!
We’ll deliver a BRANDED Optimist boat (with your name or company) to your location. Rally your friends, family, or network to sponsor and donate to your cause and challenge – raise as much as you can for charity!
Let us know your location and if you want to support any other charity alongside the Little Optimist Trust. You can host a fundraising event at your venue or discuss hosting at our or other venues.
Have FUN! Get your kids, family, friends, or colleagues involved. Take photos and videos, post them online, and challenge others to support you and join in a challenge.
For example, you could do it as a family event, a staff team-building activity, a school fundraiser, a pool party with friends, or even a solo vigil.
FUNDRAISE:
We’ll set up a personal BackaBuddy fundraising campaign in your name for your supporters to donate and support you. All funds raised will go to the Little Optimist Trust or can be split (after costs) 50/50 between the Little Optimist Trust and a charity of your choice.
PRIZES:
Lucky draws, Best Dressed, Youngest Competitor, Oldest Competitor, Most FUN, Most Funds Raised, Most Unique Challenge, Most PR Created, and more!
ZAR 50,000 (USD $3,000) IN PRIZES:
- Two Oceans Cooler Boxes
- Wetsuit Warehouse Wetsuits
- WaWa Hand Slides
- Hey Dude Shoes
- Optimist Hampers
- Italtile Vouchers
- Weekend Getaways
- Hotel Nights
How to enter
The Great Optimist Challenge returns, inviting everyone to participate in a fun and meaningful challenge! This global initiative welcomes individuals, corporations, schools, charities, and teams. Rally your friends, family, or even friendly competitors to join the challenge and make a splash for charity!
There are two worthy causes: The Little Optimist Trust and a charity of your choice. Funds raised by your vessel will be split 50/50 between these two organizations.
The challenge offers incredible flexibility to fit your schedule and preferences. Sail, cycle, sit, run, climb, swim, or float! Choose a date and time that works best for you between November 1 and December 15, 2024, allowing you to find optimal weather conditions and fit the challenge around your busy life.
Start a fundraising campaign
Join us in a global movement that celebrates the joy of being on the water while raising vital funds for a fantastic cause.
We encourage challengers to set a fundraising goal of ZAR3000, $300, or €300 to support The Little Optimist Trust and a charity of your choice. Remember, every contribution makes a splash!
Submit your results
Don’t sail solo! Rally your friends and network to become your sponsors – the more you sail (per kilometer or hour!), the more they donate to charity! Document your epic voyage with GPS, Strava, photos, and videos, and share your progress live on our website and social media (Facebook, Instagram). Become a social media star by posting updates, sharing your journey before, during, and after the challenge, and even live-streaming your adventure – inspire others to join the movement!
Prizes
Join The Great Optimist Challenge, a fun and meaningful way to make a splash for charity. Help us reach our fundraising goal of ZAR300,000 to support The Little Optimist Trust:
Amazing prizes on offer:
- Best dressed
- Youngest competitor
- Oldest competitor
- Most GEES
- Most funds raised
- Most unique
- Most PR created
R30,000 in PRIZES:
- Wetsuits (Wetsuit Warehouse)
- WaWa Hand Slides
- Hey Dude Shoes
- Hotel Nights
- Weekend Getaways
- Optimist Hampers
- Italtile Vouchers
- Two Oceans Marine Cooler Boxes
Our Fundraising Goal
In 2020/2021, during the challenges of Covid, The Great Optimist Challenge raised over R200,000!
The spirit of optimism continues with the all-new Great Optimist Challenge. Funds from this year’s event will allow 50 disadvantaged children to attend our new sailing academy, fostering hope and opportunity through the joy of sailing.
