What started three years ago during lockdown with Sharon Jessop running 102 consecutive half marathons for a new Guinness World Record has grown into something much bigger.
This morning, March 4, 16 cyclists from around the country departed from the Paxton Hotel in Nelson Mandela Bay to cycle to Cape Town over the next seven days. Following a rest day next Saturday, they will all participate in the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday, March 12.
This is in an effort to help Jessop raise funds for local rhino conservation organisation, the One Land Love It Foundation (OLLI), which is headed up by the dynamic husband and wife couple, Wayne and Nikki Bolton.
Jessop, who has been running half marathons to raise funds for OLLI and the Community Chest in the Eastern Cape, approached these cyclists to turn “Run Wild for Rhinos” into “Ride Wild for Rhinos.”
She explained that the the cycle tour was started by Bradley Jafta seven years ago and every year these men and women cycle to support a specific charity.
“Sadly, Bradley passed away in 2021 but the show must go on and the 16 riders are more enthusiastic than ever to tackle the road to Cape Town. For some this will be their 7th tour!
“This year they teamed up with Run Wild for Rhinos and are cycling to raise further awareness and also funds for much needed rhino dehorning and collaring in the Eastern Cape, especially following the recent unfortunate spate of rhino poaching in the Eastern Cape. To date, seven rhinos have been poached in the Eastern Cape after a lull of four and a half years of no poaching incidents,” Jessop explained.
“Wayne is currently undertaking a number of cycle races as well to raise funds for the much-needed plight of our rhinos following his successful Forever Rhino Ride during August and September 2022 and completed the Herald Cycle Tour during February. He will also participate in the Cape Town Cycle Tour,” she added.
Organiser of the tour to Cape Town, Warren Dodgen, said that the team usually chooses a charity as a beneficiary at the end of each tour but this time it is refreshing to already start with OLLI as a beneficiary after Jessop approached them.
“I have always known about the rhino poaching that is taking place but when Sharon spoke about it, I thought about it a bit deeper. I have two little girls and the thought of them asking me one day what a rhino looks like and the possibility of me telling them that rhinos no longer exist, really hit me,” Dodgen said.
He added that they are looking forward to the tour, as they approach it as a tour and not a race. “It’s not about being the fastest but this is for a good cause so it should be seen as a fun run,” he said.
He added that the team wants to specifically thank Engen De Bron for sponsoring a cash amount towards their fuel costs.
“All the riders are covering their own costs in terms of accommodation and food and thus this sponsorship is heaven sent as the team would have had to cover the fuel costs of the support vehicle as well on top of their other costs.”
World renowned rhino conservation vet, Dr. William Fowlds, said that we cannot underestimate the value of the awareness that is created by people for rhino conservation as everything starts with awareness of the problem.
To this, Jessop added that they would like to encourage more and more ordinary people to do extraordinary things for rhino conservation.
“I believe that it is up to each one of us to ensure the survival of the species. It cannot possibly be left up to the government and our private rhino owners alone. There will be many more initiatives to follow in the near future, but for now we wish our 16 ‘wild riders’ all the best of luck with their tour and their fundraising.”
“To donate towards the Ride Wild for Rhinos fundraising initiatives, simply log onto the OLLI website on www.oneland.co.za/donate and make your donation directly to OLLI to help them ensure the survival of these iconic animals. Your donation makes a huge difference,” she concluded.
