Quads 4 Quads does it again for QASA
One of the most famous quadriplegics known to us – the late Christopher Reeve, actor, film director, author and activist – is quoted as saying: "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
This could certainly be applied to the men and women taking part in the Quads 4 Quads off-road motorbike event coming up next month. About 600 quad bike and two-wheel motorcycle riders, including several quadriplegic and paraplegic riders on adapted quads, will take part for the 12th time in an event which has made a remarkable difference to the lives of quadriplegics and paraplegics in SA.
The Quads 4 Quads event began 12 years ago by Family Adventures, run by Glenn Foley and Corinne Andrews, who chose QASA (QuadPara Association of South Africa) as the beneficiary of the fundraising ride. Ari Seirlis, the CEO of QASA, as well as other well-known quadriplegics, including Phil Case – the financial director of Dial a Nerd – will be participating in this year’s event. This will be the 11th time Ari is participating on his adapted Polaris RZR and Phil’s 5th on his CanAmm Maverick with hand controls.
Quad biking for a cause. Picture: Supplied
The first stage takes place from Johannesburg to Durban tomorrow and ends at Cane Cutters in Ballito on Sunday. The return ride starts on October 8, arriving at Carnival City on October 11. Each rider faces about 250km for eight hours each day, which is challenging for both able- and disabled riders. The event is a family ride which encourages everyone to get involved, whether they’re helping at the daily rest stops or joining the riders off-road.
The race represents the spirit of QASA and quadriplegics everywhere by their firm belief that having a physical disability does not affect their ability to endure and to be the best they can be. QASA is responsible for setting up skills development programmes, employment projects and independent living opportunities to allow quadriplegics and paraplegics to integrate into mainstream society with equal rights. To date the event has raised over R6 million for QASA.
