Ride for a Child bikers five days in and going strong
Pediatric Care Africa (PCA) bikers are on their fifth day of the Ride for a Child motorbike charity event. They already reached the Beitbridge Border near Zimbabwe on Monday.
The PCA founder and CEO, Dr André Hattingh, set off with Steelwings Lowveld riders André Steynmann and Kevin Gelderblom from the White River Square on Sunday morning, beginning their lengthy 21-day journey across the country in the organisation’s effort to raise funds for South African children in desperate need of medical care.
Hattingh, Gelderblom and Steynmann will ride 6 867 kilometres in total, stopping overnight in various places across the country and meeting with other bikers.
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Hattingh and the team reached Rustenberg on Tuesday and were busy riding through Koster in the North West at the time of going to press on Wednesday.
This is PCA’s second Ride for a Child event; the first was held last October.
“The support for the charity event is much smaller than it was last year, but we know it has been a tough time for everyone with the pandemic,” said Hattingh.
“We did, however, get some brand-new sponsors this year, and some of them are quite big companies, so it is exciting.”
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He said their goal was to raise enough money for 70 surgeries this year.
“Each surgery will usually cost around R59 000; that is excluding the auxiliary costs. Last year, we were far from our goal, but we hope we can reach it this year. The children need help, Covid or not.”
Hattingh thanked all the sponsors and people supporting the charity ride.
“Everyone has worked very hard prepping for this event and we have to say thank you.”
Hattingh and the PCA team will arrive back in White River from the ride on March 6.
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