THE RACE 

What started out as a spur-of-the-moment discussion with one of the University of Pretoria (TUKS) physiotherapy students at the SPG Congress 2013 in September, blossomed into a countrywide organization of physiotherapists and other willing cyclists to take on the physical challenge of the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and see if we can help to make a number of kids' dreams come true.

In the end, 25 students, both TUKS and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (WITS), with their friends and family, 30 physiotherapists with their friends and family, and almost 45 people from Limpopo, especially Tzaneen, reported at the starting line to don the SPG cycling shirt and raise money for the Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis Nylstroom.

After many e-mails and phone calls, the day finally arrived: Sunday, 17 November 2013 - Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge Sunday. From early on, the cyclists faced the traffic and the challenge of finding parking at the Waterfall Estate on the R55, Woodmead. Then the next challenge: to find the SPG gazebo at the Polo Fields. We didn't realize polo fields could be so big! Most of the group gathered at the gazebo to sort out last minute shirt and number collections and then moved down to the start. A couple stayed behind to do last minute tyre pressure checks, but everyone was well on time.

08:26 - "And it's go, go, go..." Luckily, there were only a few that wanted to race. The rest first sorted out where the pedals were and got their balance - you don't want to crash this early in the race. Riding on the highway (M1 South) with no cars will always be one of those exhilarating experiences that one cannot explain to a non-cyclist. We passed some of the CHOC Cows with their ice cream trucks - that looks like hard work! As expected, the group split up into smaller groups, with people of the same caliber joining and riding together.

Down Houghton we picked up speed, and then through the city - just a different perspective from a bicycle. Over Nelson Mandela bridge and then the first of the climbs: Jan Smuts Avenue. Luckily, there were lots of supporters next to the road with words of encouragement and bottles of cold water that they use to spray the cyclists. And then a downhill past the Zoo where land speed records were set.

Through the beautiful tree-lined streets of the suburbs we travelled until we reached Witkoppen and then Malibongwe and the N14. You are thankful for every person that sits in front of you to break most of the wind and help to get out the baking sun a little bit faster. Every water point becomes a necessary stop to get rid of lukewarm water in your bottles. Just past the Total Bonjour, we pass a group of students that are jumping up and down and encouraging every cyclist to give it all they've got. Then they recognize the SPG cycling shirts and go absolutely crazy!! The right support at the right time...

Down the off-ramp and onto Summit road - you start to smell the water at the finish line, but I'm told that is only a hallucination. Heartbreak Hill on the R55 is the last test for tired and hot legs, but everyone passes and the adrenaline starts to pump when you realize how close the end really is.

FINISH! - there are few things as satisfying as finishing a race. We're looking forward to next year's race already.

A couple of the physiotherapists felt more comfortable on a mountain bike (MTB), and participated in the Momentum 94.7 MTB Challenge the week before. They sent pictures of the tunnels and the bridges that they had to face. Hopefully, next year we'll have just as big a group representing us at the MTB Challenge - and maybe some will do both!

After a day's rest and recovery, the "post-fun" work starts: to collect all the money raised and calculate how many bicycles we'll be able to donate to the Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis Nylstroom. A total of R 75 000,00 was raised (unbelievable!) and we're busy negotiating with one of the local bike shops to get as many bicycles as possible to the 140 kids. The handover ceremony will take place in January when all the children are back from holidays with foster parents.

"It was my first Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and I enjoyed every minute up to 70km. The atmosphere is something out of this world with music and dancers next to the road, while thousands of supporters encourage you to just keep going. It is an experience, and to do this without the fear of a car crashing into you at any stage, one of the most enjoyable races I've done. The organizers should really get a lot of credit and recognition to have such a successful event.

Unfortunately the heat got to me in the last 20 km and cramps forced me off my bike four times. I was VERY grateful to finally cross the finish line and aware of the wonderful Grace that enables us to participate in events like these. I will definitely be better prepared for the heat next year."  

- Hennie le Roux, cyclist from Polokwane

"My experience of Sunday was a positive one. I had minor hiccups along the way, like tyre punctures but it couldn't detract from the fun and excitement of riding through Jozi with Moo-ing CHOC riders and many Brides and bridegrooms-to-be! The crowds of support and the cyclists along the road created such an awesome atmosphere, and ensured that lots of fun was had. The highlight for me was definitely having our very own support team along the side of the road to cheer us on- it really was encouraging and came at a perfect time in the race!"  

- Simone Barrett, TUKS student 

"Just a bit of useless info...the man being rubbed by three students at the expo, is one of those cyclists who races the first  lap, then hop onto an ice cream vendor bicycle in a choc cow suit for the second lap ! So next time your legs are tired, think of that !"  

- Ingrid Cloete, SASP member (Ingrid and her family did the MTB race, and she helped at the Expo)

"To cycle 94.7km is no easy task. But just because we weren't brave enough to tackle the race, it doesn't mean we couldn't get involved. So we decided to make a support team to cheer on all the cyclists and especially our very own charity team. 

"The scorching sun didn't sizzle out our enthusiasm. We spent the morning making Mexican Waves along side the road; "moo"-ing at every cyclist in a cow outfit; cheering, "Steve!" at every FNB-sponsored cyclist and giving an extra loud cheer for the cyclists in wedding attire who entered the wedding competition. The most exciting part was definitely seeing our own cyclists and trying to recognise who they were.

All in all it was a good day spent with good company and a braai to make it even better. We look forward to next year's event."

THE HANDOVER

Children waiting patiently for their new bicycles.

So on a hot and dry Friday, 24 January 2014, we set out to Modimolle to hand out the bicycles to the children. After Gezina Lombard introduced all of us to the children and the caregivers, I explained to the children what exactly the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge is, and how many people decided to do this year's race in order to support them. I had to share my gratitude about every cyclist that joined us. We started this project hoping we would be able to donate fourteen bicycles (some of which would be the cyclists' old secondhand bikes) - one for every house, but ended up quadrupling that amount!

After all the official business was done and dusted, every child got his bicycle with a matching helmet, and all the local newspaper photos were taken, we had a chance to discuss possible involvement with this year's Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge again. This year we hope to top the funds raised by the group, not necessarily to buy more bicycles, but to help the Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis Nylstroom in any way they need.

We left the Home amid children riding their brand new bicycles up and down the streets, some even with their arms in casts. As one of the older boys retorted: "This is so much more fun than skateboarding!"  

Some of the proud new owners, their helmets in place and ready to go! 

About the Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis Nylstroom

After the Boer War a lot of children were left orphaned.After the flu of 1918 more children were left orphaned. As a result of the drought in 1933 parents could no longer take care of their children. No more children could thus be accommodated at Langlaagte.

The Church Board of the Dutch Reformed Church in Nylstroom (Modimolle) saw the opportunity to help children in need.The municipality decided to donate 20 hectares of ground for the erection of a children's home in Nylstroom (Modimolle). Building started in 1958 and the first children moved in in 1959.

Today, children are placed in a Children's Home by means of a court order as a result of child abuse, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, lack of parental skills, family violence and other factors that might endanger the lives of children.  

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About the 94.7 Momentum Challenge and Ride for a Purpose 

94.7 is a radio station in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area in South Africa. They are the founders of the 94.7 Momentum Challenge and Ride for a Purpose. 

The Ride for a Purpose campaign has proven to provide an incomparable platform for cyclists to create awareness about personal causes that are close to their hearts, and this year is no different.

Over R12.5 million was raised for charity last year and this year the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge is encouraging riders and charities to get involved, so they can top last year's massive success.

This year, Joburg's favourite race has reserved 8000 spots for charities to register their teams and for individuals who want to ride for their favourite charity.