Thousands of cyclists are geared up and ready to tackle the Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge, pushing their physical and mental limits for a good cause.
The 25th instalment of the race will take place on Sunday and will see riders tackle a 100km off-road race from Uniondale to Knysna via Prince Alfred’s Pass.
All the proceeds from the event will be donated to Sightfirst, the SA Guide Dog Association and to assist with other urgent needs in the Karoo community.
One of the event organisers, Zandile Meneses, said the event organised by the Lions Clubs from Uniondale and Knysna had already assisted in 5,824 cataract operations in the Southern Cape since its inception in 1999.
“We sponsored 20 cornea replacements so far, and we have urgent need of suitable corneas for many patients whose only hope to see is this expensive procedure.
“When corneas fail, the person will go totally blind, there is no other way to correct or improve the patient’s sight without replacing the cornea, so this is a drastic need.”
Meneses said the organisation was assisted by optometrists and ophthalmologists who availed themselves and worked closely with the Lions Clubs.
“Over the last few years, we have sponsored two operations for people born with defective vision and 39 children with squints.
“These people had their vision and their confidence restored.
“To a bio eye (implant) for a girl who had lost her eye as a three- or four-year-old, and is now 14 years old.
“It is a joy to see how happy and confident she has become.
“The Knysna and Uniondale Lions supply on average 300 pairs of spectacles every year, through the operation bright sight division and have taken a new challenge to supply free spectacles to 100 schoolchildren in the Knysna area.”
Meneses said all the participants had already made a valuable contribution to the good cause.
“Thousands of participants who will be part of the competition play a vital role in ensuring that the blind benefit from the event, with 4,500 paying R780 to be part of the competition and with sponsors and stakeholders who are supporting and contributing towards the success of the project.”
HeraldLIVE
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