Gear up and take part in Dis-Chem Ride for Sight
"Novice cyclists and those not yet confident of participating in the longer ride can enjoy all the buzz of this premier event by riding in the shorter distance."
The 2017 Dis-Chem Ride for Sight will be a special cycling event as it marks the 10th year Dis-Chem Pharmacies has been the sponsor of the event.
According to Ms Claudette Medefindt, the race organiser of the event, the event has raised almost R4-million over the past nine years and will continue to donate funds to the University of Cape Town research project.
Ms Medefindt said the research project is dedicated to finding treatments for genetic retinal blinding conditions such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Macular Degeneration (MD).
She said the South African National Council for the Blind recently joined the organising team from Retina South Africa and will focus on promoting tandem cycling for blind athletes.
“In another new initiative associated with the event, Retina South Africa has partnered with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and East Rand Cycling to transform cycling within the Metro,” said Ms Medefindt.
Ms Medefindt said the 116km Dis-Chem Ride for Sight has once again been selected as a seeding event for the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour, while the 62km challenge gives beginner cyclists the opportunity to participate.
“Novice cyclists and those not yet confident of participating in the longer ride can enjoy all the buzz of this premier event by riding in the shorter distance,” said Ms Medefindt.
The 2017 Dis-Chem Ride for Sight will start and finish at the Boksburg City Stadium, located at the corner of Jubilee and Dudley Smith roads, Boksburg South, on Sunday, February 19.
Online entries have opened and cyclists can enter on www.cyclevents.co.za or www.dischem.co.za.
Entries will close on February 5.
“All cyclists who enter the donation draw, a minimum of R40, stand a chance to win special lucky draw prizes valued at over R100 000. These funds will be matched by the Dis-Chem Foundation so we strongly urge participants to donate generously,” said Ms Medefindt.
She said thee high value lucky draw prizes on the day have become a feature of this event and this year will be no exception.
For further information regarding the cycle race, contact Retina South Africa on national@retinasa.org.za or phone 011 450-1181.
