Six motorcyclists left the BP Oasis on Beyers Naudé drive in the early, rainy, hours of March 5 to embark on the Paw Power Run, a national ride to Cape Town to raise funds for the feeding and sterilisation of animals in need.
Maarten Bulldog, Louise Staffie, and Cyrus Bandit Wilken (dad, mom, and son) are from Weltevreden Park. Michelle Judge Delport and Nicole Nix Van Rooyen are from Randburg and Robert Julius Puffett is from Krugersdorp.
Other riders are set to join them from Alberton and Cape Town at selected meeting points.
Van Rooyen is head of Volunteers at First National Bank (FNB) and has organised for FNB to sponsor the ride along with other sponsors like Animal Talk Magazine, Quickloader trailers and Gecko Media among many more.
They are planning to ride from Joburg, to Capetown via Port Elizabeth and then back again. The aim of the cross country ride is to raise funds for Pet Empowerment in Townships (Pets) and the Lucky Lucy Foundation in Cape Town.
Pets and Luck Lucy are non-profit animal welfare projects which strive to rescue abused and abandoned animals in and around Cape Town. They also work in townships where they sterilise pets and educate people about proper pet care.
“We’ve aimed to raise R150 000 to help these organisations rescue neglected animals,” said Maarten Wilken. “And we have set up collection points throughout our journey to collect funds and donations such as blankets and food parcels.”
“Our country’s animals are left to roam streets and are subjected to daily horrors.” He continued. “Sterilisation is the key and these organisations need help. This is our way of making a difference.”
They plan to make this ride an annual fundraiser. “Let’s just hope the weather is better in the Cape than it is here in Joburg…” said Louise Wilken shortly before they headed out on the highway.
Details: Louise Wilken 082 559 6311.
