Walking 500km to raise funds for Operation Smile
A man who grew up in Mossel Bay is raising money for children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
Bob Bolus, from the well-known Vintcent family of Mossel Bay, has called his endeavour Bob's Bay2Bay Challenge.
His mother, Lucia Vintcent, married George Bolus. The Vintcents were general dealers based in the landmark, historic Vintcent building in Marsh Street. Bob's parents are both deceased.
Under the Miles for Smiles programme of Operation Smile South Africa, the charity which assists children with cleft lips and cleft palates, Bob will be walking from Mossel Bay to Pringle Bay. The distance is about 500km.
Bob, who lives in Cape Town, says: "When I was with Engen Petroleum, I worked closely with Dave Grier, who started Miles for Smiles." He saw people's reaction to what Dave was doing to help others and he was inspired to do something too.
Bob is holding a reunion cocktail party for family and friends at the Dias Museum in Mossel Bay on 24 October.
'Significant association'
He says: "The Vintcent family has a rich and significant association with this museum." Miles for Smiles hero, Dave, will be in Mossel Bay on 24 October and give an address.
Then Bob's Bay2Bay Challenge begins at 07:30 on Wednesday, 26 October.
The first day's hike of about 18km starts at the Prince Vintcent Building and ends in Dana Bay.
The first night will be spent at a guesthouse on the Blind River.
Bob turns 65 this year. He is married and has twin boys, aged 29.
He represented the first-ever selected SA schools rugby side, as well as the Maties first rugby team and the Western Province rugby U20 team and senior sides. He has completed a number of Two Oceans marathons and two Comrades ultramarathons. His other interests include mountain biking (he has completed two Wines2Whales rides), golf and hiking.
With his Bay2Bay Challenge he aims to follow the coastline as much as possible and arrive in Pringle Bay no later than 26 November.
See www.givengain.com/ap/robert-bolusraising-funds-for-operation-smile-southafrica/#timeline and https://southafrica. operationsmile.org.