Mountain bike spectacle
EMMARENTIA - Johannesburg's urban mountain bike race promises to be one of the more exciting ventures taking place in Marks Park Sports Club.
The Hollard Juma, Johannesburg’s urban mountain bike race is taking place at Mark’s Park Sports Club on 12 October and promises to be one of the most exciting bike races to date. In conjunction with Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club (SCARC) and the ADreach Foundation, Brand Activation Marketing (BAM) has arranged to sponsor numerous bicycles to underprivileged youth throughout Gauteng, motivating interest in sports, commitment, dedication and self-image.
The exciting route consists of a novice 22km and a 52km for racing snakes and weekend warriors, and will take the participants into different and adventurous sections, including the Braamfontein Spruit area – a 700m underground tunnel near Zoo Lake – a route around storm water drains and under the Grayston Drive road, through sections of the botanical gardens and on the outskirts of the Melville koppies.
The youth from SCARC, who have been part of a fitness development programme based at Emmarentia Dam, promoted by the Adreach Foundation, were presented with their mountain bikes, recognising criteria such as commitment and effort, participating in the fitness canoeing programme at the dam, as well as improvement in school work.
Nkosi Mzolo, Chairman of SCARC says “Sport is a really effective way of keeping kids, active, happy and off the streets. We see such a massive change in them after getting involved in SCARC, they come to the clubhouse every day and it really becomes a second home to them”.
“These mountain bikes are perfect way to expose them to a different kind of sport and will also help in the form of transport to and from the club.They’ve proven themselves athletically and academically and we can’t wait to see what they can do on these bikes,” adds Mzolo.
One of the breathless winners says “We always see our friends on bikes back home, I can’t believe that one of these are mine. I want to ride it right now”.
Steve Jourdan, Director of the Adreach Foundation comments that “We selected these twenty students based on their dedication to both their training and their schoolwork. At SCARC we teach them that hard work pays off and tonight we get to reward them for all their commitment”.
Entries opened on 12July, to enter visit www.MTBassault.co.za or www.cycleevents.co.za
