Joburg Rotary Club hosts successful Cycle Tour

The Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn just finished their first annual Ultra Cycle Tour to raise funds for various projects.

The 2014 tour Rotary Tour Deux Déserts (two deserts: Kalahari and Namib) covered 1 609km over nine days and was in aid of the One School one Sports field project, HIV/Aids and substance abuse awareness campaigns.

Starting on 18 April, the cyclists covered an average of 179 km per day. The first leg of the tour started at the Sterkfontein Caves in Krugersdorp and ended in Klerksdorp. From there, they cycled to Vryburg, Kathu, Upington, Ariamsvlei, Grunau, Keetmanshoop, Aus and Lüderitz on consecutive days.

The entire tour was filmed and a documentary will be produced covering the entire event.

Cycle Tour president Steve du Plessis said, “in Krugersdorp, the Departments of Justice; Correctional Services; Education; Health and Home Affairs together with Rotary International are all creating awareness of the plight parents and teachers face in the fight against drug abuse. The Mogale City Local Municipality, the Executive Mayor of Mogale City Calvin Keketso Seerane and several churches have also been actively involved in this anti-drug campaign.”

“We will also donate to the BirdLife South Africa project for the White-Winged Fluff­tail (Sarothura ayresi), a crit­i­cal endan­gered species and also their Bird of the Year.

Du Plessis said the aim is to install a sports field at a previously disadvantaged school to benefit the children.

“Par­tic­i­pa­tion in a sport will keep them off the streets and out of dan­ger­ous places. Work­ing with BirdLife South Africa, we would also like to teach them about their environment and conservation,” Du Plessis added.

“We will list the names of the schools where the sports field will be installed once they are identified.”

Details: Cycle Tour President Steve du Plessis 082 893 4211.