Blood, sweat, tears and absolutely no e-bikes.

That is what lies ahead for Community Cleaners volunteers Alison Blair and Craig Vandeleur as they take on the Ride Joburg Cycle Race on November 22 – all in the name of protecting their community.
The pair are hoping to raise at least R30 000 towards a Clear Vu fence around the recently demolished Smit Street dump site in Fairland, helping secure the cleared land while plans for its next chapter remain pending.

Blair is aiming to complete the race in under four hours, while Vandeleur has his sights set on a time of four hours and 30 minutes. Both are taking their race targets seriously, with plenty of training, determination and hard work standing between them and the finish line.

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The real prize, however, will be what their pedal power can help achieve back home. The fundraising campaign builds on work Blair began in 2023, when she partnered with Beagle Watch on a sponsor-a-rider initiative to raise money for the first phase of the Smit and Market streets fencing project.

At the time, she was preparing to ride the Double Century cycle race in Swellendam. Now, with the old dump cleared, the volunteers want to help secure the remaining area.

Blair believes leaving the land unsecured could create further challenges for the neighbourhood, including the risk of unauthorised occupation. She says fencing the site is an important step while the parties involved determine what happens next.

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The goal is to raise at least R30 000 as a substantial contribution towards the fencing project, with the campaign aiming to secure the funds by the end of November.

This is where the community gets to join the ride – without squeezing into cycling shorts.

Residents, local businesses and anyone who cares about the area can support Blair and Vandeleur by pledging a contribution towards their challenge. A fundraising form will be available on the Community Cleaners website, with campaign updates also planned for social media.

Beagle Watch is driving the broader fencing project, with planning and installation arrangements expected to be co-ordinated through the organisation.

So, while Blair and Vandeleur tackle the kilometres, the hills and the November heat, the community can help them get closer to their fundraising finish line. Every contribution brings the fence a little closer – and gives these two volunteers another reason to push for the finish.

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