Bike trip aims to educate about cancer
Rick Budai will take on 3500 kilometres to raise awareness about early detection after his wife, Carolyn, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
MBOMBELA – After his wife was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer almost a year ago, a Hazyview man vowed to go to all lengths to raise more awareness about the importance of early detection.
On Tuesday he will start his 3 500-kilometre voyage on a bicycle from Mbombela to Cape Town in aid of PinkDrive – a mobile clinic service which offers free mammograms around the country.
I’m not really one for remembering dates – not even my own birthday. However, September 19, 2014 – it was a Friday – was one of the worst days of my life.
Mr Rick Budai (50), owner of Perry’s Bridge Reptile Park, speaks about the day his wife, Carolyn (42), was diagnosed. It was only detected coincidentally during a health test when the couple applied for a hospital plan.
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“She never had any pains. It was only during the routine mammogram she had to get so we could get a hospital plan, that they picked it up. Unfortunately, it was already far advanced. If she had been diagnosed a year earlier, she might not have had to undergo the severe treatments.”
“It’s not all negative, though. From this ordeal we have learned to appreciate the things we take for granted. I never leave the house without telling her I love her and I kiss her at every opportunity I get.”
The last scan, taken about a month ago, showed no sign of cancer, but they are still careful not to get their hopes up. The Budais do not wish this kind of suffering upon any other family. Early detection has become so important to them that he has taken up the task of awareness creation by cycling all along the coast to Cape Town. He plans to complete the journey in 44 days, of which six he will rest.
The first stage of the PinkDrive Cycle Tour will start at Riverside Mall at 07:30 on Tuesday and end in Lydenburg on the same day.
“I want to go to as many towns as possible in that period. I want to raise funds for PinkDrive, which is a proactive organisation which focuses on prevention by offering free mammograms all over the country.
They do this from buses with mammogram machines. One of these buses can cost up to R10 million.
Budai hopes to raise around R200 000 with his cycle trip. He will post video blogs every day on the PinkDrive website. Those who wish to donate R20 toward the cause can do so by SMSing Pink Cycle to 40158.
“If anyone wants to join me on any of the stages, they can do so by donating R250, which will go directly to PinkDrive,” Budai said. The cyclist, who has been training for the trip for about six months, will be accompanied by a driver.
Dr Kobus Hugo and Dr Harry Wiltshire have agreed to sponsor the team’s accommodation, Pick n Pay will sponsor meals during the day and Valencia is donating a spare bicycle as well as cycling clothes.
If anyone would like to be a part of this campaign or wants to follow Budai’s video blog, visit www.pinkdrivestagecycletour.com.
