A group of 28 cyclists, who are on their way from Johannesburg to Cape Town, put a smile on the faces of needy residents of Jouberton in the North West by giving them 45 food parcels.
The Extreme Ride For Hunger Cycle group, is on a quest to raise funds to alleviate hunger in the country and is part of meals on wheels community services.
The ride from Joburg to Cape Town is approximately 1400 km and the cyclists will stop at several locations along the way to provide 180 stationery packs, 300 food parcels and 40 care gifts to the elderly.
According to the project director Bevin Jenneke, sharing the little they have is fulfilling.
“We are very happy that we can come and share with the communities in Klerksdorp, tomorrow we will go to Bloemhof through Wolmaransstad. So all along the way, we stop at community centers and schools where we feel we can make a difference and share with the children and the elderly,” he said.
Jenneke said what will make them sleep well at night is when they see they have made a difference. “We want to bring hope, we want to share with people that we care and that together we can make a difference.
“It’s really a pleasure for us to be part of something that is bigger than ourselves and that is something where we can interact with people, share with people and encourage people”.
One of the beneficiaries Marriam Khambusi (58) from extension 23 in Jouberton, lives with five of her grandchildren and for her, the food parcel came at the right time, when they did not have any groceries.
“I don’t know what to say, I am thankful, me and my grandchildren will be able to eat, this means a lot for us,” she said.
Jeneeke said one person out of four people in South Africa is starving.
“One person is going without food on a regular basis so when it comes to poverty, when it comes to hunger with what is happening currently in South Africa, the future looks bleak but it can still be remedied if we come together and focus on the communities, focus on the people focus on upliftment,” he said.
