Cape Town Cyclists Pedal for More Than Just the Finish Line
Fuelled by a cause, ten young cyclists from the Velokhaya Life Cycling Academy, a non-profit based in Khayelitsha, took on the challenge of the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday with an aim to combat blood cancer.
12 March 2024 – Fuelled by a cause, ten young cyclists from the Velokhaya Life Cycling Academy, a non-profit based in Khayelitsha, took on the challenge of the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday with an aim to combat blood cancer.
Partnering with DKMS Africa, the cyclists embarked on a mission to raise awareness about blood cancer and blood disorders. Their goal was to support the organisation's ongoing fundraising efforts, specifically for patients requiring stem cell transplants.
Driven by a deep sense of purpose, these young athletes expressed a strong desire to aid those living with blood cancer. Setting off at 9:00 am, the team made their way to Edinburgh Drive within 38minutes, setting the pace for the day ahead. Riding through the various cut off points in Fish Hoek, Simons Town and Scarborough they passed through the 77km mark in Noordhoek by 13:18 before approaching Hout Bay at 13:52, with an average pace of 18.4km/hr. Showcasing their camaraderie, they completed the race at 14:58 clocking a total 05:57:55 hours on the road, a feat they are collectively proud of.
Throughout the challenging race, they stuck together, drawing strength from the tireless hours of training and the cause they cycled for. One of the young riders, Elihle said “I'm exhausted but incredibly grateful for the chance to cycle for DKMS and raise awareness for blood cancer patients,". Another rider, Hlumelo said “We had to improvise and work together so that no one gets left behind. No one crashed, and no one can say they had a bad day. We all tried our best,”.
Arno Fouche, another participant, took his dedication a step further. Inspired by his personal connection to those battling blood cancer, Fouche ran an additional 9 kilometres after the race to further raise awareness and funds. Through his GivenGain campaign, he successfully collected R4500 for blood cancer patients. "To be healthy is a gift, use your gift to change someone's life."
Palesa Mokomele, Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa explains that activities like this are vital considering the costs of treatments. “For example, in-hospital chemotherapy or stem cell transplants, some patients have lower survival rates than those with reliable access to specialised care and treatment, which is why we are encouraging more people to come forward to give cancer patients a chance of survival.”
“This collaboration aimed to increase public awareness about the effects of blood cancer and blood disorders and the financial burden it places on patients in need of stem cell transplants. As both organisations are in the non-profit space, we believe in working together to impact society in a positive way,” Mokomele concludes.
To make a financial contribution and help save a life in just three minutes, visit https://www.dkms-africa.org