CREATED in 2012 to raise awareness of autism, the Big Autism Thing (BAT) cycle event will get under way in April and will this year pass through Zululand.
A group of six top-class cyclists will undertake the gruelling 4 000km cycle from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to Cape Town, via Mkhuze and St Lucia.
The cyclists will hit the tarmac on 2 April – World Autism Day – and are scheduled to arrive in Mkhuze on 17 April.
They will then visit St Lucia on 19 April and Richards Bay on 20 April.
This year’s event is to raise funds for the Lethabo Le Khutso autism facility..
BAT raises funds by placing money collection boxes at all Checkers, Checkers Hyper, Spar, Pick n Pay, Engen and Caltex till points countrywide.
Those taking part in the Vic Falls Cycle Challenge include the six cyclists, a support driver and a cameraman for television coverage.
A ground crew will ensure the information on autism is available throughout the duration of the event.
Organisers have requested sponsorship from local communities in the areas through which the ride passes, whether it is accommodation, fuel or anything else.
BAT was initiated and developed by Angus Moore, who for the last 28 years has been involved with charity events for various non-government organisations.
The inaugural event in 2012 was a walk from Durban to Cape Town in which eight walkers – one with autism – participated.
The second adventure was in 2015, from Port Shepstone to Cape Town, and in 2016, a 2 000km endurance challenge from Namibia to Cape Town, via the Skeleton Coast.
For more information about the event or how to sponsor necessities for the team en route, contact team leader Hennie Kruger at charitykzn69@gmail.com or on 074 4634501.
Alternatively, donations can be made to Big Autism, Capitec Bank, account number 1606456294.
Hennie and his team are travelling the country, placing money boxes at till points of supporting supermarkets and petrol stations, with the aim of placing 1 000 before the start of the event.
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