Ride for Stepping Stone Hospice

TAKING up the challenge to ride for Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services in the 94.7 Cycle Challenge in November this year, is hospice’s very own marketing and fundraising manager, Marietjie Tame.

At the age of 55 with absolutely no previous experience of road racing, she says she is up for it and has already started her training.

The race, now in its 20th year, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 20 November with its starting point at Riversands in Johannesburg North. It’s a tough route but beyond the physical challenge, many cyclists, such as Marietjie, will be riding for a purpose and making a difference to others through their ride. Last year, over R600 000 was raised by the Stepping Stone Hospice team as a fundraiser for Stepping Stone.

Another sum like this would help fast-track the proposed extension of the hospice’s existing in-patient unit in New Market Park. “Demand for hospice care has increased dramatically,” explains Tersia Burger, CEO of Stepping Stone Hospice, “so funds raised from the 2016 Cycle Challenge will be directed towards a 505sqm addition to our existing in-patient unit. Our unit currently has eight wards, two of which can cater for long-term patients. However, we want to add on family rooms that can cater for a family member to sleep over with his/her loved one, especially in cases where the patients are very young.”

Marietjie is challenging all other novice cyclists to join the team. One of the big advantages of cycling for Stepping Stone Hospice is the favourable charity starting time (between 05:45 and 09:15), which helps novice cyclists who don’t have a seeding and would like to start a little earlier than the average novice cyclist.

If you’d like to be on ‘Team Stepping Stone’, all you need to do is:

Step 1: Register at cyclechallenge.co.za.

Step 2: After registering, email your details to Judy Joubert, team leader of the Stepping Stone Hospice team, at judy.joubert@absa.co.za. You can also contact her on 072 236 9090. More information and regular updates can be found on the ‘Cycle for Hospice’ Facebook page.

Stepping Stone Hospice is looking for as many riders as possible to take up the cause. You can make a difference!