Half a bar!
That is the fundraising target set by eight cyclists aged about 700 years collectively for the Eyabantwana (for the children) Trust in East London when they ride across SA from north to south from October 6-19.
They rode the same grueling 14-day route two years ago, from the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers, where Zimbababwe, Zambia and SA meet in the Mpungubwe National Park — all the way home to Nahooon Reef.
Route planner Rodney Offord, the Eastern Cape’s now-retired traffic engineer, said: “From Beit Bridge to the circle at the end of Oxford Street it is exactly 1,500km but we will be doing 1,506km, around 109km a day.”
The eight riders, a motley collection of Grandad’s Army cyclists — an informal group of three ex-runners set up a few years ago to support paediatric surgery at Frere and Ceclia Makinwane hosptals — are all aged sixty-plus.
They are: Colin Lazarus, Gerald Berlyn, Andrew Langtree, Jimbo Armstrong, Randal Leanderts, Zipho Mafika, William Hirst and Mac Richardson.
“We were running crocks. Cycling answered the ‘what now’ question,” Andrew said.
“In 2008, on Saturdays, we would ride our mountain bikes to a mysterious ‘white house’ near Wings airport, from this which has since been demolished!
“Our route took up the Xaba Pass and into the Promised Land. In 2015, we did the first Rob Burton Memorial Ride to Stellenbosch.”
Giving themselves and their landmarks “barmy army” titles, the “army” grew to 173, and so did the fundraising rides by the “informal social cycle group that exists only as a WhatsApp group” Gerald said.
On the big ride, their oldest pedal-pusher is renowned paediatric surgeon, Dr Colin Lazarus, 82, who is one of the fittest in the group, but Vincent Kelly, at 86, is the most senior rider in the “army”.
Calling it the Heritage Ride 2025, the “ballies” raised R250,000 in their previous biannual mega-push in 2023.
Trust spokesperson Trystan Viaene said: “The trust supports the department of paediatric surgery at Frere and Cecilia Makiwane Hospitals, helping ensure children in the Eastern Cape receive the surgical care and recovery they deserve.
“Every donation provides critical equipment and resources that directly impact young lives.
“This year, the R500,000 we seek to raise will purchase a number of instruments needed for the R850,000 paediatric gastroscope the trust has already purchased.
“These auxiliary instruments will make the gastroscope fully functional,” Lazarus said.
Vianne and Gerald Berlyn, who is the “quarts master” of the ride said the public were free to follow their ride and put money “on the jockeys. You might think we will keel over, but actually we get stronger every day”.
Gerald said: “This year we are showing our age and will be posting hot action clips on Instagram and the interweb every day!
“We are bringing along a young, decorated, tech savvy freelance reporter, Rosa-Karoo Loewe, to record our glory and disasters!”
“We will again be posting digital maps showing our progress and we would love our friends and frenemies to follow us with goodwill and your bets on these vris ballies!”
“Please place them and your donations to Eyabantwana — For the Children Trust, Nedbank account 113-818-1366.
