Travis to tackle 660km fundraiser ride
The Thomas More College learner is hoping to raise more than R7 000 for the MRP Foundation in November.
LOCAL Grade 8 learner, Travis Stedman, will selflessly take on the gruelling 660km Ride for MRP Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the NPO.
The 14-year-old Thomas More College learner said he only started cycling four years ago as his family had taken up the sport and he wanted to be involved as well. “I feel really happy that I’ve come a long way with it as I started riding for fun and now it has become a bit more competitive as I take on the older age groups,” said Travis.
He has bagged numerous achievements in this year alone, as he took second place in the KZN Road Champs, first place in the SA Road Champs, first place in the in SA XCO Series, second place in the SA XCO Champs, first in the Roag series, 10th overall at the Errigal International Cycle Tour in Ireland, first overall in the Tour Durban 45km and first overall in the 65km Amashova. Despite his numerous wins, he still remains humble and eager to help others.
Above his race entry, Travis has been tasked with raising R7 000 and to raise this amount he has created a Facebook page, Ride For Mr Price Foundation 2016, as a way for people to find out how to donate towards his fundraising drive.
He visits the Cadence Cycling Centre each morning to train for an hour and each weekend does an 80km ride on a Saturday and on Sundays he rides at Giba Gorge or around the Hillcrest area. He said the rides help him increase his endurance and plans to increase the length of each ride as the main event draws near.
“What I am most looking forward to is taking part in the ride that has so many followers behind it and to raise as much funds for the organisation as possible and help create as much awareness for it as I can,” said Travis.
During the two-day cycle from Johannesburg to Durban, Travis said he will need to travel at least 30km each hour, each day to meet the daily 12 hour cut off.
“I’m not that nervous as I took part in the event last year but only completed sections of it. This year, I am hoping to finish the entire route,” said Travis. On the MRP Foundation, he said, “They are helping a lot of learners to get through the problems they are facing and it feels really good that the team of cyclists will all be contributing to help make their lives a bit easier.”
