Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Cycling 109km for cancer, diabetes
A GROUP of Grey College old boys are raring to go for next weekend’s Cape Town Cycle Tour to support the Cancer Association of SA (Cansa) and Diabetes SA (DSA).
They are riding the 109km cycle event in aid of their fellow old boy, Raymond van Niekerk, who was diagnosed with diabetes 10 years ago and kidney cancer in 2018.
The Bloemfontein-born Van Niekerk, who now lives in Cape Town, is fighting stage 4 kidney cancer which spread to his lungs and glands.
Van Niekerk will be on a chemotherapy oral drug for the rest of his life.
He said: “Fear went through my mind when I found out I had cancer.
“This was followed by terror, depression and acceptance.
“Family and friends have been incredibly supportive. Keeping active, challenging my mind, fighting hard against negative thoughts and despair have kept me motivated.
“The plan is to focus on the good things in life,” said Van Niekerk, whose message to those who are in a similar position is to fight one day at a time.
“Let positive people help you, it’s okay to be vulnerable and get the best medical help you can get. Think what life gave you, not what you are losing.
“Get out of the house as much as you can and smell the roses,” he said.
About the race, Van Nierkerk said he was going to try to finish but not kill himself. Outside of cycling, Van Niekerk enjoys motorcycling, reading, walking, watching movies, going to the gym and travelling.
Vice chairperson of the Grey College National Reunie Charlie van der Linde said he was excited about the idea of competing in the cycle tour.
“Firstly because we are doing it as a group of more than 65 passionate Grey old boys and secondly because it’s for a good cause. What makes it even more special is that some of our old boys taking part in the race are fighting these diseases.”
“It’s a privilege to be part of something in its beginner socks that’s going to evolve into something huge. While doing it, you take hands with organisations like Cansa and Diabetes SA to spread awareness of the disease and to raise funds for them.”
“What makes it so remarkable is, it’s history in the making. After we all entered the race, Cansa informed us that we are the biggest group of riders for charity that ever entered the race in the 40-plus years,” he said.
Cansa’s Leilani Geduld said: “To date the group (Grey old boys) has raised more than R 100 000 for Cansa.”