Riding approximately 1 400 km from Johannesburg to Cape Town in a two-part cycle tour, 28 cycling enthusiasts will raise funds and create awareness of the work done by Meals on Wheels (MOW) Community Services (CS).
This seventh annual Extreme Ride 4 Hunger Cycle Tour is the biggest fundraising event hosted by MOW Community Services Northern Cape, and will commence its second part of this year’s event on Sunday, 5 March, from Kimberley.
The team will rest at various destination points along the way and conduct community outreach programmes where they will provide 40 care packages to the elderly, 300 food parcels, and 180 stationary packs to the 12 selected beneficiaries which include MOW service centres, special needs schools, and frail care centers.
According to MOW Northern Cape area director, Past. Bevan Jenneke, the cycle tour goes through four provinces, and is a collaboration between three MOW area offices. The goal is to raise funds and create awareness of the work done by the organisation in trying to alleviate hunger and poverty in South Africa.
The opening event for part one took place on Tuesday, 28 February, in Meyerton, Johannesburg, and cyclists started cycling on Wednesday, 1 March, to conclude part one on Friday, 3 March, in Kimberley.
On Friday, the opening event will take place for part two, after which cycling for this stage commences on Sunday at 05:00 from the Diamond City to end on 10 March at the Good Hope School in Kuils River, Cape Town.
The team of cyclists will be assisted by support staff that will direct cyclists on the road with lead vehicles, providing water to cyclists along the way, and medical care if the need arises.
“I am inspired by the commitment of passionate individuals and generous sponsors that are always willing to dig deep into their pockets to help the organisation achieve their vision of a hunger-free South Africa. We are forever grateful to the team for their commitment to making a difference in our communities,” Jenneke says.
MOWCS is a registered non-profit organisation that was established in East London in 1964. The purpose of the organisation at the time was to provide meals to the elderly in the community. but Since then, the focus is on alleviating hunger and poverty for all by providing daily nutritious meals and skills development programmes to destitute communities, and offering a basket of services to communities to improve their living conditions.
MOWCS constitutes six regional offices operating in all nine provinces, with the head office in Bloemfontein. Nationally, there are over 700 service points, a fleet of over 200 vehicles, and 1 400 volunteers serving more than 31 million meals per annum to the needy.
The organisation calls on all members of society to get involved by donating or sponsoring to the cause. Call Jenneke on 076-953-5554.
