Dr André Hattingh, founder of Pediatric Care Africa and a group of motorcyclists embarked on an intercity City to City Bike Ride on 24 September to raise funds for their #HELPMYOP1000 OPERATIONS FOR 1000 CHILDREN.

The mass ride started in White River, Mpumalanga and ended in Alberton on Sunday, 27 September after completing 1 086km. When the group stayed over in Randfontein on Saturday, 26 September the Herald caught up with them.

Pediatric Care Africa is a registered non-profit organisation that provides lifesaving assistance and hope to less fortunate children in communities throughout South Africa.

André is a neurosurgeon who worked throughout Africa in various medical fields, and also designed, built and run several hospitals on the continent.

André retired in 2017 and founded Pediatric Care Africa as a promise he made to himself and all vulnerable children he encountered while volunteering in Rwanda during the genocide. The work the organisation does is truly remarkable.

“Our focus is primarily, but not exclusively on children from birth to age 18. We identify special needs in children and address the needs by assisting with visits to specialists, supplying medical treatment and medication, as well as life-changing operations.

“We also supply food to malnourished and hungry children and their families. Pediatric Care Africa recognises the devastating effect Covid-19 has on our children and their families. We are currently involved in supporting four informal settlements, providing medical treatment and food. Since lockdown started on 26 March, the number of children we help increased from 350 to 2 000,” André said.

He also explained their fundraising campaign, saying that individuals donate money for every kilometre they ride.

“Before we leave, our kilometres are logged. At the end of our journey we calculate the number of kilometres we have ridden in the four days, and the public can donate towards those kilometres.

We do two rides every year – a big one in February when we ride in various parts of South Africa, and this one, the Intercity.”

He added that they aim to raise funds to perform 1 000 paediatric surgeries, which will cost millions of rands. They do not receive government grants or any other form of government assistance, and they are pleading with the public to support their efforts and cause generously.

Visit their website [www.pediatriccareafrica.org] for more information.