Gearing up for ‘Tour de Rotary’

FLEXING their calves, oiling their chains and putting in hours of training on the roads of Zululand.

That’s what Rotary Club of Empangeni members are doing in preparation for arguably their biggest – and certainly most physically taxing – fund-raising exercise of the year, crossing the country on their bicycles in aid of charity.

The Connection Ride will see club members (at their own expense) take on a gruelling cycle tour from Empangeni to Cape Town, forging relationships along the way while raising funds and sponsorship for a number of non-profit organisations right here in uMhlathuze.

It has also been identified as an opportunity to link Rotary Clubs en route to Cape Town and to support inter-district ties and fund-raising efforts.

The cyclists cover 1 700km, leaving from Empangeni and ‘climbing’ out of KwaZulu-Natal via Vryheid.

The route will then pass through, among others, Ladysmith, Clarens, Middelburg, Aliwal North, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Plettenberg Bay, George, Hermanus, and Somerset West before finally pulling into Cape Town, followed closely by their massive vehicle support team of fellow Rotary friends.

The funds raised are primarily being used for the social upliftment of communities and the care and support of HIV/Aids victims.

Why ‘connect’ with Rotary?

Rotary is a worldwide organisation of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.

Approximately 1,23 million Rotarians belong to more than 34 000 Rotary Clubs located in 167 countries.

Rotary is also registered as a Public Benefit Organisation.

All fund-raising projects are overseen by Rotary International.

Through global grants, the Rotary Foundation provides additional contributions to funds raised by Rotary clubs and districts for international service projects.

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.

Beneficiaries from previous connection rides include:

Thuthukani Special Needs School

Zululand Hospice Association (ZHA)

Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)

MusweNkosi Foster Home

SPCA

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI)

Greytown Children’s Home

Do I Care Enough? (DICE)

Empangeni Child Welfare

Empangeni Senior Citizens Association

SANCA

Crossroads Teen Centre (AWOL)

Hope Feeding Scheme

How can I become involved?

Businesses can throw their support behind the riders by contacting Andrew Killick for details on 082 3359984 or emailing andrew.killick@vodamail.co.za.

Every small contribution helps, so those who would like to donate to the cause are invited to use the following banking details:

Rotary Club of Empangeni, ABSA Bank, branch 632005, current account number 406 968 6085.

Connection Ride 2018 itinerary

Test Ride: Sunday 11 Feb To Hluhluwe

Day 1: To Mtonjaneni, 24 Feb 70 km

Day 2: To Vryheid, 25 Feb 113 km

Day 3: To Harrismith, 26 Feb 113 km

Day 4: To Clarens, 27 Feb 26 km

Day 5: To Ladybrand, 28 Feb 148 km

Day 6: To Aliwal North, 1 March 100 km

Day 7: To Middelburg, 2 March 100 km

Day 8: To Graaff-Reinet, 3 March 106 km

Day 9: Rest Day 4 March

Day 10: To Beaufort West, 5 March 208 km

Day 11: To Oudtshoorn, 6 March 100 km

Day 12: To Barrydale, 7 March 99 km

Day 13: To Worcester, 8 March 92 km

Day 14: To Paarl 9 March, 65 km

Day 15: To Cape Town, 10 March 8 km

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