Cyclists do it for books

LOCAL cyclists are preparing for this weekend's Homeward Bound, 230km cycle race, and aim to create awareness for the Learn Project.

Werner Roelofse and Domingo Pestana Do Vale, along with support rider Madelein Pestana Do Vale, will take one the ride, which starts at 2am in Mount Splendour and ends at Cascades Centre in Pietermaritzburg.

“The ride can take anything from 10 to 14 hours to complete and we are aiming for between 10 and 12 hours to finish!” said Domingo.

The riders register between 4pm and 6pm on 31 October, sleep overnight in tents, and get up at 1am for the 2am start.

“We're super fit and ready for the ride! We do aim to better last year's 14 hours,” said Werner.

Madelein will take over if one of the men can't continue the race, and will also supply food and water and physio along the route.

The men recently took part in the Berg and Bush, finishing 155 out of 560 teams, their best ever.

The team is riding for the Learn Project Ride For Books initiative, and recently supported the project at an event at Giba Gorge.

Ros Toerien from the Learn Project said the men were cycling to create awareness for the organisation, and since the Ride For Books at Giba Gorge, the initiative had been 'exploding'.

“We are really excited and it is wonderful how many cyclists have come forward to support us. Our motto is Let's Educate a Rainbow Nation and we provide educational resources in disadvantaged schools. We are in the final stages of preparing our latest library at Buhlebethu Primary in Inanda and have converted a run down unused classroom into a sustainable library,” said Ros.

She said with the support of volunteers, they had processed 1050 books which will form part of the library. There have also been sponsorships of carpets and paint.

“We aim to launch our library at the end of the term and the teachers will be attending a library training course and the children will be educated on how to use the library effectively,” she said.

Visit: www.thelearnproject.co.za