Meals on Wheels to cycle for hunger
MEALS on Wheels Community Services will be hosting its 7th Annual Extreme Ride for Hunger Cycle Tour from February 28 to March 10 when 28 cycling enthusiasts will ride from Johannesburg to Cape Town in a two-part cycle tour.
The tour is aimed at raising funds and creating awareness of the work being done by the organisation in trying to alleviate hunger and poverty in South Africa.
The opening event will take place on February 28 in Meyerton, Johannesburg, as part one of the programme.
Cyclists will start cycling on March 1 at 5am and will stop in Kimberley on March 3 at noon.
Part 2 of the event will entail an opening event at the Horseshoe Motel on the same day.
Cycling will commence on March 5 in Kimberley at 5am and will end on March 10 at Good Hope School in Cape Town at noon, where the closing ceremony will be held.
The team of cyclists will ride approximately 1 400 km from Johannesburg to Cape Town and
will be assisted by a team of support staff who will be responsible for directing cyclists on the road with lead cars, providing water to cyclists along the way and medical care if the need arises.
The team will rest at various points along the way and conduct community outreach programmes.
They will provide 40 care packages to the elderly, 300 food parcels, and 180 stationery packs to selected beneficiaries at Meals on Wheels service centres, special needs schools and frail care centres.
According to Meals on Wheels Community Services’ Northern Cape area director, Pastor Bevan Jenneke, the Extreme Ride 4 Hunger Cycle Tour is the biggest fund-raising event hosted by the organisation in the Northern Cape.
Jenneke said that the tour stretches through four provinces and is a collaboration between three Meals on Wheels area offices.
“I am inspired by the commitment of passionate individuals and generous sponsors that are always willing to dig deep into their pockets to help the organisation achieve its vision of a hunger-free South Africa.
“We are forever grateful to the team for their commitment towards making a difference in our communities,” Jenneke said.
“Meals on Wheels Community Services is a registered non-profit organisation that was established in East London in 1964. The purpose of the organisation at the time was to provide meals to the elderly in the community but since then the focus is on alleviating hunger and poverty for all by providing daily meals and skills development programmes to destitute communities.”
The organisation constitutes six regional offices and its head office in Bloemfontein.
There are over 700 service points nationally, a fleet of over 200 vehicles, and 1 400 volunteers serving more than 31 million meals per year to the needy.
The organisation calls on all members of society to get involved by donating or sponsoring the cause.
Anyone interested is urged to contact Bevan Jenneke on 076 953 5554.