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03 July 2003
A group of top Johannesburg bankers and financial consultants will be cycling a gruelling 640km to raise money for children's charities, including Aids orphans.
Last year, the group, comprising 22 employees from Standard Bank, Stanlib, Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank (SCMB) and Liberty raised R230 000 through the four-day cycling tour to Durban. Each cyclist contributed a minimum of R5000. Standard Bank and Liberty matched an amount of R5000 per employee.
Cycle for Kids, as the event is now known, started as a team-building exercise in which the community-conscious financiers toyed with the idea of raising funds for charities in dire need of financial assistance.
This year's tour was officially launched in Johannesburg last night. Organisers promised an even bigger tour which will benefit more needy children and hopefully more money than in 2002.
The Standard Bank and Liberty foundations, the group's social investment and community development arms, have pledged to support the cyclists.
Says Stuart Loxton, Standard Bank Financial Consultancy Director and one of the organisers: "As responsible corporate citizens, executives and management in organisations have a meaningful role to play to help the less fortunate in our society. As employees we need to strive to be caring ambassadors who help contribute in the well-being of the communities in which our institutions do business in.
"We're very pleased that our small efforts have brought smiles to a number of needy children. It's also encouraging that many of our colleagues are joining us in this exciting, tough and fun-filled project while contributing to our country's broader socio-economic goals."
The 60 cyclists will set off from Gauteng, on Thursday, 23 October. They will cover 155km the first day, overnighting in Reitz. They tackle a gruelling 210km the second day, ending up in Winterton. On the third day the riders head for Pietermaritzburg, a distance of 175km.
On the final day, the group will link up with the annual Pick 'n Pay Amashovashova 100km National Classic, a Pietermaritzburg to Durban mass participation cycling event.
Charities which benefited from the 2002 event include Women/Men Against Child Abuse, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Aids Counselling Care, Alex Aids Orphans and Cotlands Sanctuary.
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