Durban - About 600 quad bike and two-wheel motorcycle riders, including several quadriplegic and paraplegic riders on adapted quads, are expected to take part in the Quads 4 Quads off-road motorbike event starting this week.
Now in its 13th year, the first stage of Quads 4 Quads takes place from Johannesburg to Durban on Thursday, and ends at Cane Cutters in Ballito on Sunday, October 2.
The return ride starts on Thursday, October 6, arriving at Carnival City in Johannesburg on October 9.
The Quads 4 Quads event was started 13 years ago by The Adventure Company, run by Glenn Foley and Corinne Andrews, who chose QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) as the beneficiary of the fundraising ride.
Ari Seirlis, chief executive of QASA, said that the purpose of the off-road motorcycle event was to give riders an opportunity to raise funds for QASA.
“The funds empower the less fortunate communities as the riders hand out stationery sets and soccer balls to kids from the rural areas,” said Seirlis, who will take part in the event for the 12th time.
The entry fee for those participating is R3 500per rider, which includes food and accommodation.
A portion of this fee is deducted for QASA fundraising.
Seirlis said the association had been able to raise more than R7 million for QASA in past years, and he hoped this year it would raise R5 000.
Each rider rides about 250km over 8 hours each day, which is challenging for able-bodied and disabled riders.
The event is not a race, but a family ride which encourages everyone to get involved, whether they’re helping at the daily rest stops or joining the riders off-road.
The ride represents the spirit of QASA and quadriplegics everywhere, in their firm belief that having a physical disability does not affect their ability to endure and to be the best they can be.
QASA is responsible for setting up skills development programmes, employment projects, skills development projects and the distribution of assertive devices and mobility aids to allow quadriplegics and paraplegics to integrate into mainstream society with equal rights.