On Friday 25 November 2016, the students of the Military Academy, who also houses Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Military Science, based in Saldanha, embarks on a nine-day endurance race by land and sea to do charity work, as well as raise funds for charity.
The money will go towards community development projects run by Maties Community Service and MASIZA, the Military Academy’s community service organisation.
Each year, the Military Academy students raise funds by planning, organising and participating in a unique event called Exercise TRANS ENDURO. Four teams – a land-, running-, cycling- and sea team – travel from Port Elizabeth to Saldanha over a period of nine days, staying over in towns along the way. A total of 200 Academy students participate in the event this year.
While the cycling team covers a certain distance on bicycles, the sea team travels along the coast with two rubber dinghies, and the land team drives with vehicles from town to town collecting money and preparing for the other teams’ arrival. There is also a running team that covers a distance of 10 km each day. At certain points the teams change and they also do community service in towns along the way by, amongst others, cleaning streets and neighbourhoods, painting school buildings, and visiting retirement homes.
The entire exercise is planned and executed by the Academy students. This develops their leadership skills and enhances their understanding of the practical issues related to community service. In return, communities get exposed to the high calibre of the young men and women serving in defence of the country.
Also, it is tradition that the mayor of each town writes a short letter of goodwill to the mayor of the next town. The letter is handed to the exercise commander who delivers it to the mayor of the next town.
On Friday, 25 November, the team starts at 08:00 in Port Elizabeth, from where they travel to Jeffrey’s Bay. The next day they travel to Plettenberg Bay where they stay until Sunday, 27 November. On Monday, 28 November, they move on to George and on Tuesday, 29 November to Stilbaai. On Wednesday, 30 November, they depart for Struisbaai, the next day it’s off to Hermanus, then Houtbay to arrive on Saturday, 3 December back in Saldanha.
- Liaise with Captain Ashwell Lourens at 078 903 1514 for more information.
DEPARTURE: EVERYDAY AT 08:00
Fri 25 Nov: Port Elizabeth – Hobie Beach
Sat 26 Nov: Jeffrey’s Bay main beach
Mon 28 Nov: Plettenberg Bay Main Beach: Hotel Area (arrive in George (Wildernis))
Tue 29 Nov: Start from Wildernis (arrive in Stilbaai)
Wed 30 Nov : Depart from Stilbaai harbour (arrive in Struisbaai)
Thu 1 Dec: Start at Struisbaai harbour (arrive in Hermanus)
Fri 2 Dec: Depart from the Old Habour in Hermanus (arrive in Houtbay Harbour)
Sat 3 Dec: Houtbay Harbour – arrive at the Jetty at Pedros in Saldanha
