This year, Bright Start, together with Hout Bay community project, Demi’s Dream, will receive support from an unlikely source. With the Cape Town Argus Cycle Tour imminent, many cyclists all over the country are gearing up to participate. But how many of them are preparing to ride three wheel vintage ice-cream trikes? The answer is ten. The ‘Triking Bikers’, amongst them former professional cyclist, Manfred Oelz, are captained by Miki Smith of Suikerbossie Restaurant in Hout Bay. They have pledged to ride the grueling 110km on these cumbersome but playful trikes, each carrying 25kg of Bos Ice Tea, operating with one gear, one break and absolutely no aerodynamic ability – all to raise funds for Bright Start and Demi’s Dream.
Founded in 2008, Bright Start is a community-based organisation that places underprivileged children from Hout Bay into schools with proven educational standards. This initiative provides continuous guidance to both the children and parents through its Support and Mentorship Programme. Equally charitable is Demi’s Dream, which was formed by Lucielle and Garth Abrahams in honour of their daughter who passed away two years ago in a tragic car accident. In an effort to keep Demi’s spirit alive, the initiative aims to educate children through the Bright Start Programme. In addition to school fees, these children will benefit from extra murals, transportation, after care and two meals a day. Funds raised from the ‘Triking Bikers’ in the Cycle Tour this year will aim to offer similar opportunities to three more children in the Hout Bay community.
Bos Tea, Suikerbossie Restaurant and RBS Katz Breskal are the main sponsors behind this adventurous ten-man team. “When we were approached with the idea of these entrants doing the Cycle Tour on our ice-cream type bicycles, we, who love all things wacky, thought it was a fantastic idea. We value the opportunity to get behind these two powerful causes,” says Alice Lazarus, Bos Brands Marketing Manager.
It would normally take around three hours to complete the Cycle Tour, but on these trikes, the riders are estimating a journey of seven to eight hours. Bright Start Programme Director, Fiona Maitland says: “We know this is going to be a difficult feat for the riders, and will require much endurance on their part. This is a generous and heroic gesture, and will be cheering for them all the way.”
Make a pledge for the ‘Triking Bikers’ on:
- Bright Start’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Make-Demis-Dream-Go-Bos/348744898477304
- via Pay Fast payment system https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/brightstart or
- contact Fiona Maitland at fiona@brightstart.org.za for more information and/or banking details.
