LEBO MJANGAZE
East London’s community came together for a 12-hour spinathon — pedalling not just for fitness but to change lives and raising more than R118,000 for 70 vulnerable children at The King’s Children’s Home.
Participants, sponsors, and local businesses united outside Body Culture in Beacon Bay earlier this month for the third rendition of the Body Culture 12-hour Spinathon, raising the highest amount in its history.
Organising committee member Fran Smith said the sum raised at the event was due to the unwavering support of the East London community.
Last year, the spinathon raised R50,000 which went towards clothing and baby toiletries. The previous year, the funds raised enabled some the children from grade R to 3 to attend school, as well as paid for much needed maintenance at the home which included replacing floors, carpeting, baby compactums, curtains, painting and fixing broken cupboards.
Smith said: “Our Body Culture spinathon team are incredibly grateful to every single person who pedalled for an hour or more, all the corporates and businesses who supported us.
“I am thrilled that the ongoing dedication, commitment, effort, enthusiasm and team work of our spinathon team managed to create this ‘feel good’ platform allowing folk to make a difference while sweating it out on a spinning bike.
Body Culture owner and manager Mike Ott presented The King’s Children’s Home director and founder Tracy King with a cheque of R118,300 last week.
Ott said: “For us, as the gym, a spinathon also presents an opportunity to have a fun-filled day of social spinning, dancing, hit music and sing-alongs that brings our local community together to exercise and feel happy. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
King said the amount raised would bring a positive impact into each of the vulnerable children’s lives.
King said: ”We are so thankful to Body Culture and the EL community.
“I was encouraged when I saw the turnout and commitment of companies, individuals, family, and friends.
“An average family of four costs thousands per month to run, so just imagine what it is like to be responsible for 70 children and all their needs.
“We cannot do it on our own; but we can do it with a bit of help and support from others. Educational costs, nappies, formula, food, and running costs are increasing daily, and this money will go a long way to help us keep our doors open over the festive season and into 2025.
“The King’s Children’s Home has been operating since 2008 and, to date, has received no assistance from social development. This is why a fundraiser is critical for us. Some of our challenges have been sourcing funding for a project of this nature as well as fighting for justice for the outcomes of our children’s court cases.”
The Pink Fairy NPO founder Mike Webb is an avid supporter of the annual spinathon for King’s Children’s Home because support for vulnerable children is sorely needed in the city.
Webb said: “I have been to King’s Children’s Home and I have seen what they are doing, they love the work they do which makes us excited to jump on board and always help where we can.
“The event was spectacular as it has always been, it was a massive fun event and I am always excited to be part of it as it is worth being part of.”
Local resident, Tracy Kitching has cycled through the full hours of every spinathon for the home in the last three years including last year’s gruelling 15-hour spinathon. At the time she said: “I am finishing the full 15 hours because the pain I will experience is short term compared to the difficult circumstances that some of the children have to experience.
“We do this all for the children and for their futures.”
