As part of its fund raising program, the Rotary Club of Helderberg will be seen in action manning water points and providing marshal support on route during Stage One of the FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) Mountain Bike (MTB) Adventure, Ride and Race.
The Rotary Club of Helderberg was founded in 1983 and has been involved with the FNB W2W MTB Events for four years. “Our main function is to serve the community,” says Brian van der Grijp, President of the Rotary Club of Helderberg. “Our work with W2W enables us to provide funds to various charities including our chief project which is the Bizweni Centre for Children with Disabilities. Our Bizweni Project started in 2005 with fundraising for the building of the original Centre. This was completed in 2010. In 2013 we started raising funds for the building of the Skills Development Centre for children between the ages of 12 to 18. This was completed in 2016. In 2014 we helped raise donations for a bus. At the beginning of this month we were able to hand over the keys to a second bus.”
Situated in Somerset West, the Bizweni Centre for Children with Disabilities was established in 1998. The Centre is a Special Educational Day Care Centre providing quality education, therapy and care for children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, downs syndrome and spina bifida.
According to Vicky Hinrichsen, Bizweni Centre Project Manager, the school would not have been able to grow and develop to where it is today without the incredible buildings. “The Rotary Club of Helderberg doesn’t just hand over donations, but continues to take an interest in the program as a whole, including its impact on the community and sustainability of the project. Visiting overseas Clubs have been brought to visit the Centre and through this wheelchairs have been donated and money raised to equip the new program.”
The approximate cost of running the Bizweni Centre is R2300 per child per month. This is done through: school fees, corporate funding, individuals, government funding and fundraising. For more information or to contribute towards the Bizweni Centre for Children with Disabilities visit www.bizwenicentre.co.za
EVENT INFORMATION: FNB Wines2Whales MTB Events
Starting in the Winelands of Somerset West, riders will cross through (and over) 13 wineries, 26 private farms, six mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, nature conservation areas (including the Kogelberg Biosphere) before finishing within sight of the famous whales of Hermanus!
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Adventure: Friday, 04 November 2016 – Sunday, 06 November 2016
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Ride: Monday, 07 November 2016 – Wednesday, 09 November 2016
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race: Friday, 11 November 2016 – Sunday, 13 November 2016
Each FNB W2W MTB entrant will receive an adidas branded jacket. Together with Duesouth, the official retail partner of the FNB W2W MTB Events, adidas will set up an exhibitor’s area in the Race Village. Riders and supporters can look forward to a firsthand experience of adidas’ newest TERREX range.
The prize purse breakdown for the 2016 FNB W2W MTB Race can be viewed here: http://wines2whales.co.za/rider/race-prize-purse/
Like our Facebook page: Rotary Club of Helderberg / Bizweni Centre for Children with Disabilities / Wines2Whales
Follow us on Twitter: @HelderbertRotary / @bizwenicentre / @w2wmtb
For more information on the FNB W2W MTB events contact Chris on 083 760 3158, e-mail race@wines2whales.co.za, adventure@wines2whales.co.za or ride@wines2whales.co.za or visit www.wines2whales.co.za