Ride to give the sick hope
RIVERSANDS – Athletes took on the Toyota Warrior Race at Riversands on 5 October to raise awareness around organ donation in South Africa.
A group of organ donor warriors got ‘down and dirty’ for the cause, participating in the Toyota Warrior Race at Riversands Farm Village on 5 October in support of saving lives.
The group of 100 organ donor warriors set off to conquer the Rookie race (5km and 15 obstacles) on the day. The participants included families and friends, all enjoying the day while creating awareness about organ and tissue donation.
Ride for Hope event shirts was sponsored by the North-West University, a proud supporter of the Organ Donation Foundation of South Africa (ODF), and the ODF awareness stands offered the opportunity for members of the public to ask questions or sign up as organ and tissue donors on the day.
Ride for Hope was born last year when Braam Blom cycled 1 800km from Pretoria to Cape Town on a mountain bike, with the key aim of creating awareness around organ donation, and specifically to register as many possible organ donors. Blom is himself a living donor, having donated a kidney to his wife Belinda in 2012. At this stage, Belinda is on the waiting list for another kidney and receives dialysis regularly.
It is estimated that less than 0.2 per cent of the population in South Africa are registered, and currently, there are over
4 300 adults and children awaiting organ and corneal transplants in South Africa. Less than 600 people will receive a transplant and the ‘gift of life’ this year, due to this critical shortage.
Tragically many children and adults die while waiting for a lifesaving transplant, while others have to undergo dialysis treatment for many years while on the waiting list.
Details: The Organ Donation Foundation www.odf.org.za
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