Gearing up for ‘Tour de Rotary’ The Connection Ride will see Rotarians on a taxing cycle tour forging relationships on the way to raise funds for charitable groups in uMhlathuze, a town in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
Flexing their calves, oiling their chains and putting in hours of training on the roads of Zululand.
That’s what Rotary Club of Empangeni (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa — D 9370) members are doing in preparation for arguably their biggest – and certainly most physically taxing – fundraising exercise of the year, crossing the country on their bicycles in aid of charity.
The Connection Ride will see club members (at their own expense) take on a gruelling cycle tour from Empangeni to Cape Town, forging relationships along the way while raising funds and sponsorship for a number of non-profit organisations right here in uMhlathuze.
It has also been identified as an opportunity to link Rotary clubs en route to Cape Town and to support inter-district ties and fund-raising efforts.
The cyclists cover 1 700km, leaving from Empangeni and ‘climbing’ out of KwaZulu-Natal via Vryheid.
The route will then pass through, among others, Ladysmith, Clarens, Middelburg, Aliwal North, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Plettenberg Bay, George, Hermanus, and Somerset West before finally pulling into Cape Town, followed closely by their massive vehicle support team of fellow Rotary friends.
The funds raised are primarily being used for the social upliftment of communities and the care and support of HIV/Aids victims.
Why ‘connect’ with Rotary?
Rotary is a worldwide organisation of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.
Approximately 1,23 million Rotarians belong to more than 34 000 Rotary Clubs located in 167 countries.
Rotary is also registered as a Public Benefit Organisation.
All fundraising projects are overseen by Rotary International.
Through global grants, the Rotary Foundation provides additional contributions to funds raised by Rotary clubs and districts for international service projects.
The Rotary Club of Empangeni will partner with one or more Rotary clubs and districts, and the money raised through the 2018 Connection Ride will be supported and added to by further donations from the districts concerned and by the Rotary Foundation in the form of a global grant.
Source: Zululand Observer
