Thanks to the generous donations of six teams who participated in the recent Cycle Lab Maluti Double90 road race, a community in Clarens now has 20 Bike4All bicycles for its children to use and enjoy. Who knows, a future South African cycling superstar may come from the town of Clarens…
Hosted by the Pedal Power Association (PPA), the Cycle Lab Maluti Double90 is a unique team time-trial format race over 180km through the Free State’s scenic Clarens area. And this year, six of the teams gave something back to the sport – and hopefully inspiring a next generation of cyclists – by accumulating enough funds to donate 10 Bike4All bicycles to charity. As they pledged to do, the PPA then matched their generosity with a further 10 bicycles.
Combined Churches in Action (CCIA) was the designated charity. It is a registered non-profit organisation involved in a community development programme in the Clarens townships of Kgubetswana and Kanana. One of their projects is Bana ba Hlokang (Children in Need), a project that serves underprivileged children in the Clarens community by providing them with a daily meal from Monday to Friday, as well as a place of care, learning and safety.
Lessons and assistance to the 206 children enrolled at Bana ba Hlokang also incorporates a variety of subjects and activities, including computer-work, reading, homework, sport, art and dance, all provided by dedicated volunteers. Housed in the CCIA’s Tshepong Centre, the project is managed by Thomas Thaele and his wife, Sarah, who are were there to accept the bicycles on behalf of the children of Bana ba Hlokang.
“The generous donation of 20 bicycles to the children of Bana ba Hlokang will be put to good use,” said Bernie Platte, chairman of Bana ba Hlokang. “The children will be given the opportunity to learn to ride and thus acquire new skills and improve their confidence.”