Durban -
Four visually impaired pupils from Hillcrest will be part of the Amashova cycle race this weekend.
The students from Ethembeni School for Visually Impaired and Physically Disabled in Hillcrest have been using stationary bikes at the school gym and practising riding along Durban’s beachfront in an effort to get into tip-top shape for the race.
This is no joyride for the pupils taking part in the race as part of the fund-raising activities for “Cycling-kilometres-for-Ethembeni-students”.
The project will encourage other cyclists to take up the cause and support it through GivenGain – a platform that helps people raise funds for their favourite charities or causes.
They will achieve this by becoming activists on the website and then cycling on behalf of Ethembeni to raise funds to equip the school library with books in Braille.
Principal of Ethembeni School, Braam Mouton, said: “Thanks to the Amashova and their involvement in Ethembeni School.
The event has built a Road Safety Bike Park at our school where groups of school children learn the rules of the road using a specially designed track and bicycles.
“This is run in conjunction with the Department of Transport programme for introducing road safety to learners at schools in the Pietermaritzburg and Durban areas and is working well with a number of our learners.”
Natasja Foster who will be riding tandem with one of the riders because he is blind said: “We are all very excited.”
She said the cyclists had been taught how to ride and how to communicate with each other. She said she was happy to be a part of the event.
“I feel everybody is here for a purpose and it is good to give back to the community.” Foster said the riders started practising two months ago.