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Each year Rhodes Health Suite (Gym) runs a Cyclathon to involve university lecturers and students as well as the Grahamstown community in a healthy living initiative aimed at supporting special causes. Last year the Rhodes Cyclathon supported cancer awareness and this year the Rhodes Health Suite (Gym) will be supporting muscle disease awareness.
Says, the event organizer, Clementine Davies “the Rhodes Health Suite (Gym) Indoor Cycling Team works hard each year to find sponsorships and willing participants to cycle for 12 hours in support of special causes. This year the event will be held at the Rhodes Gym on 22 August. We have selected the We MiND Foundation, a non profit company established by Community Development Initiatives International (CDII), as a main beneficiary because of the work the We MiND Foundation does to create awareness about muscle diseases such as motor neuron disease, muscle dystrophy, muscle sclerosis and myasthenia gravis.”
Felix Munyai, Manager of Rhodes Health Suite, says “the aim of the Cyclathon on 22 August is two-fold. It is an individual challenge and accomplishment to participate in the event and it is also a means for individuals to actively give of themselves for a charity, towards a project, to a cause and for the greater good. The Cyclathon is about camaraderie, working together, achieving through effort and having fun – 12 hours, 25 bikes. So, the challenge is on! We challenge other local gyms and businesses to support the event by buying bike slots for the day and through sponsorships and donations.”
The Rhodes Heath Suite invites all university and Grahamstown residents to participate in the Cyclathon on 22 August. Age doesn’t matter and it is an excellent way of involving the Grahamstown community in Rhodes’ healthy living events.
Says, Clementine Davies “the aim of this event is to provide a fun-filled day of pedalling action with loads of exciting entertainment. The event is also there to inspire individuals to choose a healthier, more active lifestyle to benefit them in the future – but it does not end there. The money raised during the day’s cycling will go towards the We MiND Foundation. This local charity creates awareness and raises funds for those suffering from Motor Neuron and other muscle diseases.”
David Viljoen, who has been diagnosed with a genetic muscle disease, is an Ambassador of the We MiND Foundation. He is also an active member of the Muscle Dystrophy Foundation of South Africa (MDFSA) and has been responsible for bringing the two Foundations together to create awareness about muscle diseases in the Eastern Cape. He is supported by the We MiND Foundation and the MDFSA to establish a support group in the Eastern Cape for muscle diseases.
We MiND Foundation Ambassadors, David Viljoen and Millicent Rheeder.
Says, David Viljoen “the We MiND Foundation was delighted to be approached by the Rhodes Health Suite Cyclathon organisers as a beneficiary of the event. The Cyclathon is an excellent opportunity for the university and Grahamstown communities to come together to offer support and create awareness about health issues which we don’t always think about. It is events like the Rhodes Cyclathon and the Rhodes Health Suite Indoor Cycling Teams’ generous initiative which supports our efforts to establish a much needed, active support group in the Eastern Cape. I look forward to swopping my walking aids for a bike on 22 August to support the Rhodes Indoor Cycling Team”.
Don Leffler, Director of the We MiND Foundation supported David’s comment. “The Rhodes Cyclathon will add greater impetus to the efforts by the We MiND Foundation and the Muscle Dystrophy Foundation to involve the Eastern Cape is offering support to those suffering from muscle illnesses as well as for their friends, family and care-givers” Says Don “we encourage people from Grahamstown and elsewhere in the Eastern Cape to get involved in the Cyclathon whether as participants, sponsors, donors or just to visit the Rhodes Health Suite (Gym) at the campus on 22 August”.
For more information on the Cyclathon or for information on how to become involved in the Cyclathon, please contact:
Event organiser: Clementine Davies at 0832561602 or email: ruhsic@gmail.com (website: www.ru.ac.za/healthsuite)
We MiND Foundation: David Viljoen: 071 501 4740 or email: davidviljoen66@hotmail.com (website: www.wemindfoundation.com)
Date: 22 August 2014
Venue: Rhodes University Health Suite (Gym) (Grahamstown, Eastern Cape).
Contact: Don Leffler
Phone: 076 580 0271
Fax:
Website: www.wemindfoundation.com
Send an online message to enquire about Rhodes Cyclathon for Muscle Diseases[contact-form-7 id=’5807′ title=’Contact form 7′]