Grant toes the line at Amashova challenge
To raise funds, Grant and other boccia players will be showcasing KZN Boccia at Knowles SPAR and everyone is invited for this fun day.
NEW Germany resident Grant Oosthuyzen (25) is taking up a challenge at the Amashova Durban Classic Race where he will be the first person to ride 35kms with one big toe.
He will use a power wheelchair to do this and hopes to raise in excess of R80 000 for KZN Boccia (similar to bowls).
Grant, who is also a bowls coach at KZN Boccia, said he will start the race from Hillcrest to Durban on Sunday, 22 October all in the name of fund-raising.
On Saturday, 1 July, Grant and other stakeholders will host a promotion day at Knowles Spar.
“The KZN team and others players will be showcasing KZN Boccia from 9am until 2pm. We are inviting people to come and support this initiative,” said Grant.
On the day, people can meet the KZN boccia team, play boccia, wheelchair races, listen to good music and there will be a live band.
Oosthuizen said he had the privilege of playing boccia for 14 years and was ranked number one in South Africa. I was chosen to represent SA and went to the games in Portugal.
“What an experience that was. Due to the lack of funding in 2016, KZN lost their rankings as they were unable to attend the national games but KZN did their best to get their ranking back in PE this year.
“Funding for coaching has also been withdrawn. This year I thought the KZN team needs to raise funds for next year and I decided that I would do the 35km section of the Amashova race,” he said.
The money raised will be shared for coaching and for the KZN Boccia team to go to Bloemfontein for the 2018 SASAPD National Championships.
He has also done some talks at various venues and received some financial contributions.
“Others are going to sponsor me by the kilometres I do in the race.”
An electric wheelchair is being built and sponsored by Mr.Wheelchair in Pinetown.
“The Kloof Rotary Club and Round Table as well as a few private sponsors have assisted with prizes and financial donations.
Some will support the fund-raiser we are having at Knowles Spar to create awareness and hopefully get more sponsors for the ride.
“My dad, brothers and a few of my friends are riding with me as well as. A physio and a mechanical team will be on standby in case anything goes wrong,” said Grant.
He said this race is a real challenge for him as he is using his big toe to drive the wheelchair and hopes this will create lots of interest from other wheelchair users to do this race in the future.
Raffles prizes are a Power Toolkit (Donated by Build It Pinetown) and an A2 photograph on canvas (donated by Grant from GMO Photography) as well as a beautiful food hamper from Knowles Super Spar. Govinmani of Pavilion donated a camera stand and cleaning kit. Tickets costs R20 each and will be drawn on race day.
All the money raised will go towards keeping boccia alive as well as the Amashova Race. Contact Grant on 072 117 3716 or email grant@bigfootdesigns.co.za.
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