Cyclists believe balance is key

A journey of more than 670 kilometres is never easy. It’s a lot harder when the journey is done on the saddle of a bicycle, but for the 14 cyclists involved in the Chiropractic Cycle Tour the journey seemed to be flying by.

The cyclists passed through Newcastle last weekend, using the town as a stop-over on their journey from Johannesburg to Durban.

The tour is made up of a group of students studying Chiropractics at Durban University of Technology (DUT) and University of Johannesburg, the only two universities offering the courses in the country.

Event coordinator, Janine de Gouveia, explained a student from DUT had initiated the cycle tour seven years ago to raise awareness about Chiropractics, and also to raise funds for two orphanages in Durban, Marburg Haven, and Durban Childrens Home.

“We also want to promote healthy living within all the people we pass by,” said Ms de Goveia.

Although some of the students participating in the event, are involved in other sporting events throughout the year, a few of the students decided to participate in this event for the first time.

Fitness enthusiast and route director, Michael McBean said for some of them it was extremely hard to keep pushing themselves.

“You end up having some really rough days, and sometimes we question ourselves. But in the end, we know we are making a difference somehow, and this pushes us on,” he explained.

The group encouraged the community to get involved in recreational activities like this, or at the very least live a healthy lifestyle.

The group left Newcastle on Sunday, en route to Ladysmith and Bergville. Thereafter they would travel to Estcourt, Hilton and finally on to Durban during the cause of the week.

They wished to extend their thanks to the Singh family for their assistance, New Active Gym for accommodation, and an unnamed resident who went out of their way to assist one of the students with repairs to his bike.