Local couple ‘moo-ve’ it for CHOC
Michelle and Oliver Sinclair took part in the Amashova cycle race to raise much-needed awareness for CHOC.
PHOTO: Supplied/Gameplan Media
WINSTON Park couple, Michelle and Oliver Sinclair, were among the thousands who rode the recent Tsogo Sun Amashova cycle race, but made a bold statement in their black and white cycling gear of The Cows to champion a cause close to their hearts, CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Oliver, or Ollie as he is affectionately known, is a Multiple Sclerosis sufferer and rode in a specially modified hand cycle with his wife, Michelle, on hand to help during the 35km race to Durban.
“Ollie can use the left hand side of his body and his balance is not good, so he has ridden the Amashova in his hand cycle three times now. But this was the first time that we have done it for The Cows,” said Michelle.
“While he was getting treatment in hospital, Ollie was in the paediatric ward and saw first-hand what children go through when getting cancer treatment.”
The hand cycle played into Ollie hands on the steep descents, but took a lot of extra effort to get up the hills, where Michelle used the bar on the back of the hand cycle to help push him to the summit of each hill.
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“When you are cycling, the downhills are usually the time to rest, but not with Ollie,” said Michelle. “We were doing 80km/h going down Fields Hills and I was pedalling like mad to try and keep up with him.”
The ride turned into a much tougher outing than they were expecting after a mishap close to the finish.
“We were actually doing really well and got to tollgate in less than an hour, but then Ollie got a flat tyre, and with the very unusual tyres on his hand cycle, we couldn’t repair it. We agreed that we weren’t going to give up, having gone so far, so he rode on the flat tyre all the way to the finish,” said Michelle.
She said that the support from fellow riders and spectators kept them going.
“Wherever you go in The Cows’ kit, you get a special reaction. It is amazing and humbling to be able to go out and raise awareness for CHOC at an event like the Amashova.”
The Sinclair family have become stand-out supporters of The Cows.
Their son, Tyler, received a special award from the Winston Park Primary School for raising R11 000 for CHOC through a passionate fund-raiser that started with pooling all his pocket money.
