The Avril Elizabeth Home for the mentally challenged has registered as a charity for the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, to raise awareness of the important work it does in the community and to bring in additional funding.
The race will be held over 94.7km, through various areas of Johannesburg, on November 16.
“We are looking for at least 20 people to ride on behalf of the home and to raise funds, through the event, for us,” said Kathy Jooste, chief executive officer of Avril Elizabeth Home.
The event, which has a new route starting at Riversands, in Fourways, and now excludes the gruelling 14km stretch along the N14 Krugersdorp Highway, encourages people to ride for a purpose.
Last year cyclists raised millions of rand through the event, for various charities with which they decided to align themselves.
“Some of the advantages of riding on behalf of our home would be that charity bonds are given a favourable start group and time,” said Jooste.
“It also means that, if you’re registered on our bond, you’re able to use the event to create awareness of the home and raise funds for us.”
Registered cyclists can be as creative as they like when raising funds.
They can, for example, be sponsored by their family, friends and company per kilometre of the 94.7km they ride on the day, or organise a car wash to raise funds.
The person who raises the most funds for a charity is awarded the Red Jersey.
“Cyclists need to register online at https://www.cyclechallenge.co.za/ and to pay the fee put on the site. Once they have done this, they can send an email to aehome@mweb.co.za and we’ll let them know what happens next.”
“Companies can get involved too; you can either register your team to ride for us or sponsor our cyclists or even come up with a creative way to help us,” explained Jooste.
Avril Elizabeth Home for the mentally handicapped provides high quality residential and day care to intellectually challenged people from all sectors of the community.
The home has 157 permanent residents and provides day care to 20.
All residents and day care attendees are intellectually challenged and many have a physical disability, as well.
To find out more about Avril Elizabeth Home, or how to donate if you don’t wish to cycle, visit their website at www.avril.org.za, or call them on 011 822 2233.
