Pair gear up to raise funds

THE goal of participating in the joBerg2c cycle race is not necessarily to win, but to finish, while enjoying the experience of one the world’s leading off-road cycle races.

So say Independent Newspapers staff members Tim Whitfield and Andrew Taylor, who have entered the race to raise funds for the Daily News Milk Fund.

The joBerg2c is a 900km race that begins tomorrow in Johannesburg and finishes on May 5 at Scottburgh.

And the duo believe a strict diet will be crucial to them reaching the finishing line.

Whitfield and Taylor said they would be focusing on food that was high in carbohydrates, which would help to fuel and sustain them during the endurance race.

“Throughout the race our diet is filled with high energy food – from energy drinks, energy sachets to energy bars. It’s all about food high in carbohydrates,” Whitfield said.

“In races like this, you always want to eat and you eat even more since there is so much energy that gets lost when you are cycling.”

While the pair expect to spend an exhausting six hours on their bikes every day, they say they will also be taking in the scenery.

“What makes this so special is that we will be cycling through areas where we wouldn’t normally be allowed to. It’s impossible to get there using vehicles,” Taylor said.

The two have secured pledges for more than R35 000 and aim to hand over at least R50 000 to the fund at the end of the race.

All the money raised will help to feed 13 000 children at 74 crèches and schools in KwaZulu-Natal.

Since the Daily News Milk Fund began 77 years ago, it has been feeding children up to eight years old with powdered full cream milk and high-energy porridge.

Whitfield will be writing daily updates on their progress during the race for the Daily News.