Doctor embarks on 7 000km motorcycle excursion in support of children
Pediatric Care Africa, which was established in 2017, has distributed over 2.2 million meals and over 5 000 baby packs containing baby milk/food and nappies.
MKHONDO – Pediatric Care South Africa is undertaking its fourth ride for a child, a charitable motorcycle trip throughout South Africa.
The tour will cover a distance of 7 000km, visiting the northern, southern, eastern, and western areas of the country which are accessible by road bikes.
By travelling this distance, the organisation wants to raise awareness to the plight of children who require surgery and medical care, but whose parents cannot afford it or because they are orphaned.
In order to achieve this goal, the organisation has to raise funds to provide surgery for a 1 000 children.
Surika van der Merwe, the secretary of Pediatric Care Africa, said, “Our goal for 2023 is to support 45 children with surgeries and 400 with visits to private specialist doctors.”
Dr André Hattingh the CEO of Pediactric Care Africa, who has previously set off in support of this initiative, will also leave White River Square Shopping Centre’s Pick n Pay on February 12 at 09:00 and return at 13:00 on Saturday, March 4. He will be accompanied by a support vehicle.
If Hattingh is successful in finishing this year’s charity ride, he will have travelled 28 000km for charity with 84 days spent on the road.
He has already travelled 21 000km on his motorcycle in support of the cause.
“We urge individual guest riders and motorcycle clubs from all across South Africa to join Hattingh on his travels throughout the country and to support the ‘ride for a child’ initiative.
Hattingh will set off on this trip on his Harley-Davidson Road King,” Van der Merwe said.
She also stated that it is not how far you ride, or what you ride on that is important, it is the joining up and showing that you care for the children that is important.
Pediatric Care Africa, which was established in 2017, has distributed over 2.2 million meals and over 5 000 baby packs containing baby milk/food and nappies.
A total of 5 895 people have received free medical care, and 1 390 children have been taken to private doctors and specialists by the organisation, of which over 100 have had surgeries.
Van der Merwe has appealed to companies and individuals to sponsor Hattingh at R1 per kilometre he completes.
Sponsor documents for companies and guest riders are available on their website at www.pediatriccareafrica.org.
“Without the generosity of companies and individuals, Pediatric Care Africa cannot render assistance to people in desperate need. We always ride for our own pleasure, now let us ride to save a life,” she said.
Residents of Mkhondo (formerly Piet Retief) can expect to see him arrive in town on March 3 when he’ll be traveling from St Lucia to Mkhondo.
The following day he will be setting off on his way back to White River.
