On Friday, 31 July from 10am to 3pm close to 150 cyclists will ride 160km on stationary bikes at five Cadence Studios in KZN to raise money for CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation SA) in the CHOC Cows’ 100miles2nowhereChallenge.
Each rider has paid to enter and has raised sponsorship for their challenge, and each studio will try to outdo the other when it comes to creating a fun atmosphere. There will be music, deejays and local restaurants donating food to the riders.
The 100 miles to nowhere challenge, which started in 2007, is an international fundraising cycling event, raising funds for cancer research/care. The founder, a USA blogger only known only as Eldon (AKA ‘The Fat Cyclist’), lost his wife to breast cancer. While nursing her and looking after his four young children, the only time he had to cycle was from 2am to 4am every morning on his indoor trainer – cycling but going nowhere.
It was towards the end of his wife’s five-year battle with cancer that he challenged fans of his blog to sponsor him. The mission was to ride 100 miles on his stationary bike. He raised a few thousand dollars, but the challenge caught on and every year, groups of rides around the world take part.
In 2008, a group of cyclists in Johannesburg decided to take part in the 94.7 Cycle Challenge to raise funds for CHOC. They chose to dress in gear made to look like splotchy cow hides. Since then they have become a widely-recognised, fund-raising force, officially registered as The Cows™, whose members take part in sporting events across the country to raise funds for CHOC.
The first event in South Africa was in 2010: a 13 year old girl from Kloof, Laura Varty, organised members from her parents’ riding club to ride. They raised R2 000, which they donated to CHOC. They have done the ride every year since, raising more money each time.
Cadence Studios in Durban:
Cadence Hillcrest: ECR’s Cameron Claasen will be there from 11am to 12pm. Lupa Restaurant is sponsoring food and the local Caltex is chipping in with snacks and water.
Cadence Westille: ECR’s Cameron Claasen will be there from 12pm to 1pm.Olive & Oil will be treating the guys to pizza and pasta all day.
Cadence Durban North: ECR’s Darren Maule will be there between 4pm and 6pm. Roccobar and the local SPAR will be keeping the riders pumped up with burgers and beer.
For a donation of just R150, people can make a difference for a day in the life of a child with cancer. CHOC supports a ‘CHOC Block’ at the Paediatric oncology unit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital.
This facility provides a private rooming-in facility for a child with cancer and their care-giver during their often lengthy treatment. Each room costs R150 a day to run, which includes two meals a day for the child and carer, laundry facilities, etc.
Money raised as part of the 100miles2nowhereChallenge will help support this much-needed facility. Get involved by either taking part or by making a donation via www.givengain.com/activist/142002, or visit the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Choc-Cows-100-Miles-2-Nowhere/847856065306476.
