Khaye to Cali: Help Khayelitsha para surfers get to the world champs in California

Two young para surfers from Khayelitsha in Cape Town have been selected to represent South Africa at the World Para Surfing Championships in California in November, and they need financial assistance to get there.

All the team members have to self-fund their journeys, and the Roxy Davis Foundation has launched a campaign called 'From Khaye to Cali' to get these two athletes to the competition.

Noluthando Makalima, who was born with cerebral palsy, and proud quadruple amputee Raemondo Lessing are passionate about their sport, and serve as a symbol of inspiration for the community of Khayelitshathat talent and perseverance can take you places.

In conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King, Makalima says that achieving her goals in surfing has been her dream since she was introduced to the sport ten years ago.

The single mom has shone at the World Champs before, taking the silver medal in 2022.

Lessing placed 17th out of 50 world-class athletes the first time he competed in the global competition.

The two athletes competed at the South African Para Surfing Championship in May, where they earned their place on the national team.

Davis explains that they are taking a team of 8 South Africans and two coaches to the 2025 World Champs, which has nine divisions for the differently abled competitors.

When Makalima surfs in the Prone 2 category for instance, she needs a coach at the back of the board to push her into the wave she selects, which she then rides herself.

"She'll have a receiver coach to catch her at the shoreline and return her back to me at the backline and go again."

The competition is hotly contested, says Davis, with both these surfers up against around 50 athletes in their respective divisions.

By Saturday 18 October, the BackaBuddy campaign was almost halfway to its goal of raising R150 000. The competition takes place from 2-7 November.

Every donation, big or small, will bring these two talents one step closer to California and represent one giant step for inclusive surfing in South Africa.

Donations are eligible for Section 18A certificates.

Click here if you're able to donate and help these two para surfers represent SA on the world stage.