The ride of a lifetime

TWENTY Empangeni Rotary

Club members and their support crew pulled into Cape Town last week to mark the end of the epic 2018 Connection Ride - which saw them cycle more than

1 200km for charity.

The amateur cyclists rode from Empangeni through many towns such as Ladysmith, Clarens, Middelburg, Aliwal North, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Plettenburg Bay, Hermanus before reaching the Mother City, forging relationships with fellow Rotary Clubs members along the route.

Ride captain Andrew Killick said the cyclists had a challenging time, but the weather played along on most days.

‘South Africa is a really beautiful country and one appreciates creation at a slower speed than that of a car.

‘We appreciate the sponsors, donors, families and supporters in our quest to raise funds for Rotary projects.

‘Special thanks to President Barbara Robarts, Fulvio Pace and Steve Tandy (Rotary Ladysmith) for their help and assistance in this mammoth undertaking,’ he said.

Two to tandem

Glynn and Jean Harborth (on a tandem) said the hardest part was getting up at 4.30am, packing vehicles and being on the tandem by 5.15am.

‘Then the world changed, and it was just us, the bike and the road - an experience never to be forgotten.

The funds raised from the Connection Ride will be used for social upliftment of communities and the care and support of HIV/ Aids victims.

All fund-raising projects are overseen by Rotary International.

The Rotary Club of Empangeni will partner with one or more Rotary clubs and districts, and the money raised through the 2018 Connection Ride will be supported and added to by further donations from the districts concerned and by the Rotary Foundation in the form of a global grant.