Hand cyclists pedal five countries for a good cause
“We hope to inspire able-bodied and people with disabilities enough to be more effective in making South Africa inclusive."
The founder of Benoni NPO Love Authentic, Baveesha Naran, couldn’t contain her excitement when her friends from the organisation, Bidii Yetu, arrived at Dingo’s Pub in Lakedene on June 10.
The Bidii Yetu entourage, led by American adaptive cyclist Olaf Kula, made a detour to Benoni on their way to Balfour in their five countries-journey to raise awareness for people with disabilities.
The trip started in Swakopmund in Namibia on May 12, with a team of adaptive and able-bodied cyclists pedalling into Botswana and South Africa. They will then ride to Eswatini and their 3 000km journey will end in Maputo, Mozambique after 50 days of cycling.
Naran got involved in this adventure from the beginning. She said it was important they stopped in Benoni as it’s where her activism found its ground.
“This adventure aims to assist people with a disability. We are also raising funds to support organisations that assist people with a disability. This adventure is about going from coast to coast.
“My organisation, which raises awareness for people with vitiligo, is involved with Bidii Yetu and we aim to let people know they have to love their authentic selves,” she said.
Bidii Yetu, meaning ‘our resilience’, started as an idea by Kula to travel across Africa, which he couldn’t pursue because of the pandemic.
Kula, who lost the use of his legs in an accident, used to be a cyclist and as an able-bodied person he said he used to ignore the needs of people with disabilities due to his prejudices.
With the 3 000km adventure across five countries, he aims to correct his mistakes.
“We want to demonstrate what people with disabilities can achieve once the barriers to their impairment are lifted and generate awareness of the poverty cycle in which millions of people living with disabilities are trapped.
“We also want to raise funds and equipment for organisations of people living with disabilities on our route,” said Kula.
One of the beneficiaries of Bidii Yetu’s drive is Vusi Marenene from the Western Cape, who linked up with the cyclist in Benoni.
Marenene was gifted a hand cycle by Bidii Yetu after an accident, which left him paralysed from the waist down last year.
“This has made me stronger and has taught me independence. I hope this initiative could inspire our communities to stop looking at us and think we can’t do things for ourselves,” he said.
Following some formalities, Kula, Naran and their entourage rode to Balfour accompanied by Benoni’s Vikings Cycling Club.
“We hope to inspire able-bodied and people with disabilities enough to be more effective in making South Africa inclusive,” said Naran.
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