By cycling over 1000 kilometres through South Africa, a Bedfordview resident managed to raise R15 000 for the Thembalami Care Centre.
Mr Sean Wheeler, who took part in The Munga Race, participated not only to raise funds for the centre but to create awareness for the centre as well.
Sean decided to take part in The Munga Race after a traumatic robbery.
He said he realised life was too short and that he wanted to do something extreme and exciting while he still had the opportunity.
“It was a personal challenge I had set for myself,” said Sean.
Sean said after he made the commitment in 2015 to do the race, he decide to do the race for a cause.
He chose to do the race to raise funds and awareness about the Thembalami Care Centre.
This is not Sean’s first time raising funds for Thembelani.
Over the years he had done a number of cycling races and the care centre was always the beneficiary of choice for him.
“The caretakers at the centre are the unsung heroes. I take my hat off to them,” said Sean.
He said these caretakers go the extra mile when helping the elderly at the care centre.
He said the care centre is close to his heart, not only for the assistance they provide to its residents, but also because Sean’s father lives at the care centre.
“The care centre helped my father when he was down on his luck. This is just my way of giving back to them,” said Sean.
He said at the care centre his dad is in a much better place and is really cared for.
Despite having done 450 hours and 11 000 km worth of training, Sean said the race was tougher than expected.
“The ride was brutal. The high temperatures, the strong wind and soft sand really affected your pace,” said Sean.
Out of the 79 entries, only 38 finished.
“On day one alone, 17 people pulled out of the race. We had 40km/h head winds and a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius,” said Sean.
Another challenge was the fact that cyclists had five days to complete the race.
Sean finished in just over four and a half days.
Sean said even though there were challenges, the race was a wonderful experience.
Despite riding the race 80 percent by himself, the sense of camaraderie and the relationships formed during the race were excellent.
Sean said he will continue to do smaller races and raise awareness for the care centre.
