On schedule: Local cycler for breast cancer reaches Sandton

MBOMBELA – A dedicated husband who is undertaking a 3 500-kilometre cycle tour to Cape Town to raise awareness of breast-cancer detection, has reached Sandton after the sixth stage of his tour.

Mr Rick Budai (50) departed on the first stage of his bicycle tour from Riverside Mall at 07:30 last week Monday. He reached Sandton on Monday after having had to endure the gruelling Long Tom Pass on Tuesday and dreadful weather over the weekend. However, he has acquired a companion for two stages, making the challenges a bit more bearable.

Read more about Rick’s mission here: Bike trip aims to educate about breast cancer

Ms Marlene Meiring of Pretoria joined Budai from Bronkhorstspruit and completed the two stages to Sandton. She had to use the spare bike, sponsored by Valencia Wholesalers V-Bikes, after she obtained a puncture in the middle of a storm.

“There were a few challenges on day one, both physically and emotionally,” he said in his first video diary. “The first great physical challenge was the ‘little’ pass. I thought I was going to have to get off and push my bike, but luckily that didn’t happen.”

The biggest emotional challenge was having to leave my wife Carolyn on Tuesday morning. Missing her is going to be the biggest challenge.

Carolyn Budai (42) was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2014. She had no pain or signs of lumps and was only diagnosed after a routine check-up for their medical aid. By that time she was diagnosed the cancer had already developed to stage-three breast cancer.

The couple believe that, if they had detected the cancer sooner, Carolyn might not have had to endure the gruelling treatments. This sparked the idea in Rick to start cycling to raise awareness of early detection, so he teamed up with Pink Drive, an organisation which utilises buses with the necessary equipment to provide free mammograms.

According to Budai, each bus containing the mammogram machine can cost up to R10 million. His aim is to raise R200 000 on this trip.

I must say, I am shocked to see how much support I have received. However, the fund-raising has been very slow. It seems people don’t want to donate. I don’t know why.

Budai plans to raise funds by asking people to send an SMS, containing the words ‘Pink Cycle’ to 40158. Those who would like to join Budai on any stage of his tour are welcome to do so. Participants are asked to donate R250 toward the cause.

Budai will head to Heidelberg on Tuesday and to Standerton on Wednesday. He plans to reach Cape Town on October 16.

Visit www.pinkdrivestagecycletour.com to follow Budai’s progress or to make a donation.