NINE staff members from John Wesley School as well as their spouses and friends will take part in the gruelling Tsogo Sun Amashova Durban Classic as a team building exercise.
The upbeat team consists of teachers, admin staff, the principal, deputy principal and chairman of the Board of Governors as well as groundskeepers at the school, and each one of them is determined to make their mark at this year’s race.
“We aim to promote John Wesley as a progressive forward thinking school, staffed with committed teachers and management who are not afraid of challenges. We also want to promote good health and sportsmanship and cycling is definitely a way of keeping fit for all ages. We will once again use our cross-country course as a cycling track on our Fun Day on 6 December this year.
While some of the teachers and staff taking part in the event have been practising for the event, a few others have not climbed on a bike in years. “I’m not a cyclist at all and the last time I remember cycling was when I was 15 years old, I’m now 27,” said Ryan Reed, a Grade 6 teacher at the school. He said he had yet to purchase a bike for the event but would be purchasing one in the coming week. “When I get the bike I will be sure to practise before the event. This is the tester and I firmly believe that it would be good to do this as an annual team building experience.”
Marketing manager, Lilian Corden-Lloyd, who considers herself a “Weekend Warrior”, cycles at least 40km every weekend. She, along with the deputy principal, Darron Tarr, who now trains twice a week covering the same distance, are ready to take on the challenge. The principal of the school, Helen Birchall, is currently nursing a broken toe but is hoping it will be healed in time for her to take part in the event along with her fellow staff members.
“Taking part in the event will show unity and spirit in the school and is a great team building exercise,” said Darron Tarr. To emphasise their strength in unity and team spirit, they will don bright yellow t-shirts which were sponsored by the local company, KT Cycles, in Pinetown. The next event they will also take part in as a team is the Tour Durban.
