Riding for hope
Helgard Muller embarks on a 6000 km cycle along the border of South Africa
ADVERSITY is something we all go through at some point in our lives.
It can hold us back, damage our motivation and make us feel like there is no way out.
But for those who have looked at adversity as a lesson instead of letting it drag them down, they have emerged from the experience stronger and more determined than before.
One such man is Helgard Muller whose life changed dramatically whilst working inside a grain bin, in the town of Roscoe in South Dakota, USA when he fell through one of the non-covered draining holes and ended up having his left foot amputated.
Recently his life has taken another turn for the better as he embarks on a 6000 km cycle along the border of South Africa, to inspire and motivate others who have lost limbs or were born ‘different’.
He will be the first person with only one leg to do such a journey and in doing so, he will raise funds for the Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities (WCAPD).
Muller set off on 1 September on his journey.
His route includes starting in Cape Town and then heading north to Oranjemund in Namibia.
From there, he will cycle to Messina, Louis Trichardt, Nelspruit, Richards Bay and Durban before heading back along the eastern coastline to Cape Town.
Muller aims to complete the trip in three to four weeks, but realistically maybe six.
The route is mainly on tar roads, with some off-road sections along the west coast to Oranjemund.
