Veteran cyclist displays heart of a champ
Southbroom cyclist Guy Dudley rode with the two heart transplant recipients from the southern Drakensberg to Scottburgh.
The South Coast’s veteran cyclist, Guy Dudley, proved that he has the heart of a champion when he participated in the KAP sani2c mountain bike stage, to inspire and raise awareness of organ donation.
Dudley rode in support of Team Change of Heart, made up of two heart transplant recipients – Billy Macleod (56) and Pedro Basson (20).
The CEO of AllLife, Steph Bester, Dudley, and the two recipients rode on e-bikes, covering 265km over three days, from the southern Drakensberg to Scottburgh.
Dudley from Southbroom said they felt this was more than just a race, but a celebration of life and second chances.
He explained that cycling over 250km with a new heart is not something simple.
“It’s not like how we would jump on a bike and ride. Possible heart complications and the heart rate need to be considered first. There are certain warm-up exercises they must do before riding. The e-bikes enabled them to manage pace, terrain, and energy levels more effectively, while still tackling the challenge,” he said.
Dudley said he had to be part of the ride, as this was a story of hope.
Macleod, once an accomplished cyclist and triathlete, was sidelined for six years by heart disease and given just two weeks to live before receiving his transplant.
He made a remarkable comeback in 2024 when he became the first South African heart transplant recipient to complete the KAP Sani2c.
This year, he returned with a renewed purpose – not just to ride, but to support 20-year-old Basson through his very first stage race.
For Macleod, the ride was about passing the baton of hope and helping another transplant recipient believe in the impossible.
Basson received his transplant as a teenager, and his journey to recovery has been nothing short of remarkable.
Taking on sani2c, the 20-year-old said knowing he had a team behind him that understood the journey made all the difference.
“It was not just about the bike, but it was about proving to myself that anything is possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dudley said it is important for communities to support such initiatives.
He said it could be your child, wife, father, mother or any family member that goes through the same thing.
“Relate it to yourself. Support where you can, it inspires hope and makes the world a better place,” he said.
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