Kenya’s blind cyclist gives encouraging talk
Douglas Sidialo (42) is a blind Kenyan tandem cyclist, humanitarian, and goodwill ambassador who is currently riding in the 940km Joberg2C Mountain Bike race.
He was a guest at an event hosted by Springs Wheelers Cycling Club and gave a motivational talk held at Pollack Park Golf Club on Wednesday evening.
“His talk was titled ‘Triumph through Tragedy’ was inspirational to all the cyclists,” says Roodt.
Douglas’ journey began when he lost his sight after suffering injuries from the US embassy bomb attack in Nairobi, Kenya on August 7, 1998.
• Read: Thousands gather for Ride for Sight
“Through acceptance, courage and determination he has become an inspiration around the world and is currently in South Africa with his cycling partner John Mwangi Kiriko (21), for the Joberg2c race,” says Roodt.
He saw the opportunity to host Sidialo as a perfect match for Springs Wheelers which has been a supporter of Retina SA and the Ride for Sight event for the past 29 years.
Sidialo says after the accident he felt devastated but realised bitterness and anger retards healing and he started started walking the journey of blindness.
“I then decided to get involved with adventure sports and chose cycling and mountain climbing.
“In fact, I was the first blind person to climb Kilimanjaro in 2005,” he says.
In 2007, he cycled 12 000km, from Cairo to Cape Town in 96 days and describes this journey as a “journey in my lifetime”.
• Also read: Club’s 27th year involvement in Retina SA
The four reasons why he got involved in adventure sport are:
• To demonstrate the power of the human spirit.
• What is in you, is stronger than what is in your way.
• To overcome evil with good and
• To inspire hope in the world.
Sidialo met Kiriko, who was Kenya’s junior cycling champion in 2010, 2013 and 2014, four years ago when he was looking for a ‘pilot’ for his tandem bicycle.
He says his choice fell onto Kiriko because he can trust him and has faith in him.
Kiriko says it was quite an adjustment for him to get used to the tandem bicycle as he is a ‘single back’ cyclist.
“We encourage each other and there is a strong friendship between us, which helps when we cycle,” he says.
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