Ride for Sight reaches 30-year milestone

2018 marks the 30th edition of the Dis-Chem Ride for Sight.

All biking trails will lead to the Boksburg City Stadium on Jubilee Road on February 18, where the event will start and finish.

Retina South Africa stages the event in partnership with Dis-Chem, the City of Ekurhuleni, Springs Wheelers, Hamnet Emergency Communications, ASM Safety Consultants, Benoni Red Cross, BestMed Road Rangers, East Rand Cycling and dozens of specialist volunteers.

Over the last 30 years this event has raised over R10-million towards research in finding treatments for inherited retinal blindness, such as retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, macular dystrophies and related retinal conditions.

To thank cyclists for their support, Retina SA will award one lucky online pre-entry cyclist a cash prize of R30 000.

Other lucky draw prizes to the value of R100 000 will be drawn at the event.

Also read: Gear up and take part in Dis-Chem Ride for Sight

CSA racing category winners get a slice of R82 000 worth of prizes, and the donation draw prizes are a fantastic seven-night holiday at Sugar Beach, Mauritius (with airfare) or a seven-night stay at Michamvi Sunset Bay resort in Zanzibar.

All donations in this competition will be matched by the Dis-Chem Foundation and the proceeds will go towards assisting needy families with children affected by retinal blinding conditions.

Online entrants can order an anniversary edition T-shirt, and entries close at midnight on February 4. All pre-entries will receive a superior Dis-Chem goodie bag.

Registration will take place at Cyclelab, Lynwood, Pretoria, on February 15, at Cyclelab Fourways on February 16 and at the venue on Saturday and Sunday.

The event starts and finishes at the Boksburg City Stadium. The scenic route encompasses the farmlands and rolling hills of Suikerbosrand near Heidelberg. The route profile, map and sponsors details are all available on the entry website.

Also read: Cycling for sight

This event is one of the few events catering for the CSA-licensed juveniles in the u-15 and u-17 categories in the 62km event.

All licensed categories are under the control of Cycling South Africa’s registered referees, and the chief commissaire is the experienced Koos van Tonder.

Organisers are making every effort to ensure a safe and pleasant ride for all the participants.

MySOS, a dynamic safety app, ensures that the location of every cyclist can be pinpointed by the safety crew, with dozens of sweeps, paramedics and race officials only minutes away from any emergency. Although there is only partial road closure, the majority of the route is on double-lane provincial roads or quiet backcountry tarred roads, all in excellent condition.

The route coordinators report the best road surface in years in the outlying areas. Over 140 foot marshals will be out in force, and the BestMed Road Rangers motorbike marshals will ensure that cyclists obey the rules of the road.

For more information visit www.retinasa.org.za or www.dischem.co.za or call the Cycle Events race office on 087 820 4210.

Entries are now open at www.cycleevents.co.za