Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge Media Release

 No: drak0708

21 Feb 2007

Sani SPCA is the winner at Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge

Underberg – One of the unsung winners from the weekend’s Hansa Powerade Drak Challenge canoe race will be the Sani SPCA, which is the official charity of the race.

Paddlers have paid a premium for a place in the prestigious “Drak Batch”, which will include all the paddlers that have completed ten or more of these races, and those that have bought a place in the batch, with all the proceeds going to the SPCA.

The “Drak Batch” will start just behind the seeded paddlers, within half an hour of A batch. With over 900 paddlers entered, and due to the narrow river on the first day, each batch will contain 30 boats, meaning that the field should expect a large number of staggered batches for the first stage.

“This is a very welcome opportunity to raise funds for our branch of the SPCA, which is permanently under financial pressure, said Chris Ingram, the Secretary of the Sani SPCA.

The Sani SPCA has to service the entire  kwaSani municipality, an area of about 1200 square kilometres, with population 14 000 people, with one bakkie, and one field worker/kennel manager. 

"This is a rural community, and it needs ongoing education on animal care. The consequence of our education is that it creates more demand for our services, especially for spaying, which is a priority for the SPCA”, Ingram added.

“Our kennels and our only vehicle came from bequests, for which we are really grateful”, he added. “The majority of the community that we serve can’t afford food for themselves, let alone treatment for their animals.”

The Hansa Powerade Drakensberg Challenge will host the SA K1 River Championships in Underberg on 24 and 25 February. Entries closed on 17 February, but late entries are still being processed. The race website is at www.canoesa.org.za/DrakChallenge

ENDS