A group of four avid cyclists from Newcastle in Northern KwaZulu-Natal will join the big field at the aQuellé Tour Durban, seizing the opportunity to continue their remarkable charity fundraising efforts.

“We are a group of guys and gals who have come together to ride our bikes and raise money for the less fortunate,” explained Craig Pedersen, who’s entry into the competition on East Coast Radio won the group entry to ride with breakfast show presenter Darren Maule and a number of well know former rugby players.

Pedersen, who unusually won’t be part of the DeRailers group riding in the aQuellé Tour Durban, said that the riding friends had tried their hand at raising money while enjoying their cycling a number of years ago.

“We started out with our local SPCA and we raised a quick R11 000 in just two days!” he recalls.

“Our next project was our local Home Meah, which looks after abandoned babies and children. With this project we had a bit more time to raise some money. They did not want money but instead wanted food donations. So we raised around R23 000 and went on a grocery shopping spree for them.

“Our last project was very close to all of us,” he added. “One of our friends daughters, who is nine years old, has been diagnosed with Leukemia. Their medical aid has been exhausted, so they approached us in an effort to raise some funds for her.

“We had a great team and they all worked really hard to achieve what we set out to do and that was to change this girls life and keep her fighting,” said Pedersen. “We raised a massive R106 000 for her!”

Inspired by the success of their fund-raising, a group of four DeRailers will use their free entry into the 45km ride at the aQuellé Tour Durban on Sunday 28 November to get momentum by their newest, and most ambitious fund-raising project to date.

“Now we are raising money for another local girl, Jewel, who needs to have reconstructive surgery to her jaw, which is estimated to cost close to R500 000,” said.

He said the group was excited to have won the team entry and implored other riders on the day and their friends to rally behind their latest fundraising endeavour.

Donations can be made to:
Jewels Smile Foundation NPC
First National Bank
Business Account
Account number: 62877107485
Branch Code: 255355
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