Crazy Bike Guy saves the day

The countdown has started for South Africa’s Crazy Bike Guy, Grant Cameron-Smith, who has raised R72 000 and has cycled 2 270 km already.

Embarking on a journey of a lifetime a four-month challenge of 8 800km on a special mountain bike from London to Istanbul.

All this hard work is for a worthy cause – autistic young adults in need.

For Cameron-Smith who is currently in Portugal, director for the registered non-profit organisation Special Kneads, said it was an easy decision to give his time and energy to support this cause and help raise awareness.

The coffee and pastry shop was run by special needs young adults with backing from volunteers, parents, sponsors and the community at large, had become a friendly home for many.

“I saw first hand what a difference in the lives of these special people the café was making and that these children work for a purpose. The main cause is also to allow them to have their own tribe, where they will feel at home.”

The driving force for this initiative occurred in September last year, when the Special Knead Café in Bryanston had to shut down at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances. He plans to finish in June on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey.

“The difficult routes are often tiring, but the flag on my bike has allowed people across the world to follow my blog. People often ask me what I am doing and have often commended me,” he said.

“I don’t think people feel threatened to approach me as I am on two wheels. This actually attracts them to me and my equipment on the bike itself is also a bit of a tourist attraction.”

With the job market in the state that it is for many young adults across South Africa, there is an even more desperate need for job opportunities for special needs young adults. “We hope that this initiative will drive home how important this cause is and that by giving something,” said founder of the Special Knead Café, Kim Rundle.

She said, “I would like the café to re-open with artistic nights, staff meetings for special needs schools and for it to be a place that will be an educational space for many.”

Cameron-Smith wants to come back to SA with all his memorabilia and turn his blog into a coffee table book. His plan is to go to schools to increase awareness by combining a combination of his photos in this book to explain his journey to raise funds for autism.

Related articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/224960/not-all-who-suffer-from-autism-receives-the-needed-support/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/219158/sa-cyclists-receive-support-at-breakfast-of-champions/