Amputee to cycle tour of hope

In September this year, Helgard plans to become the first person with an amputated limb to ride 6 000km on his bike along the boarder of South Africa.

Helgard’s journey was originally just a personal venture that was meant to inspire other people living with disabilities not to give up on life, but with a message as positive as his, Helgard was soon noticed by the organisers of Casual Day.

His trip not only has an inspiring message, but now a purpose – to raising awareness for Casual Day on Friday, September 6.

Helgard’s life changed completely in 2007, when he was involved in an accident, and subsequently losing his foot.

Traumatised after the incident, Helgard regressed from life and fell into a dark hole of depression.

He says, though, that the road to physical recovery was not as hard as his path to emotional and spiritual recovery.

“All I could see was how my passions for being active, traveling and being outdoors had disappeared from my life.

“It was as if the fuse that kept the fire in my soul going had been extinguished and something inside me had died,” he says.

Helgard explains how he wallowed in self pity and would at times feel as though he had no reason to live.

However, he says his whole life’s perspective changed one day and he realised that he still had a lot to live for.

“About three months after my accident, I watched a television program about two American soldiers who had lost both their arms and legs.

“It opened my eyes to how fortunate I really was, that I at least still had both of my arms and one leg,” says Helgard.

Thereafter, his thoughts and emotions gradually became stronger and he began to focus more on his recovery.

“I became aware of how my thoughts affect my view and discovered, that by focusing on the positive rather than the negative, my whole day and my whole life can change.”

“I knew that I had to prove to myself that I still, to a certain extent, could lead a normal life,” he says.

A year after his accident, he decided to take up cycling and bought himself a mountain bike.

He says he rode every day and gradually strengthened his legs to a point where he began participating in mountain bike competitions, including the Cape Argus Cycle Tour in 2010.

“Although it was not easy to go up against the steep and rocky hills and the struggle to stay with the other riders, I enjoyed every moment of it,” says Helgard.

After that race, Helgard says he wanted to do something special for others who are in a similar situation as he is and, thus, his dream was born.

This is when Helgard decided to make the 6000km journey on his mountain bike along the South African coastline.

“As far as I know, I’ll be the first person with one leg to complete such a journey,” he says.

“I will also raise money for the Western Cape Association for persons with disabilities, because many disabled people do not have the money to buy the right equipment to participate in sports such as cycling.”

Helgard’s main sponsor is Tour de Frans cycle shop in Boksburg, and they have donated two bicycles and equipment to get him on the road towards fulfilling his dream.

His wife, Hanlie, will be riding along with him in support of his dream and Casual Day.

With his bicycle tour, Helgard plans on carrying his message to all people all over the world.

“If your attitude is right, you can do anything and it doesn’t matter how big the challenge is or how something happened to you in the past, you can change your circumstances,” he says.

For more information, visit www.givengain.com/activist/98213/projects/5392 or www.helgardmuller.com.

A contribution to the tour sponsors and donations can also be made to Helgard Muller.

Follow Helgard on Twitter at @mullerhelgard or Facebook at helgardmulleramputeecyclist to stay up to date on his journey.