BICYCLING: 94.7 Cycle Challenge - Ride for a Purpose

inGEAR:

Compiled by Cheryl Whelan Photos courtesy of Hunger and Thirst Foundation

e g n e l a h C e l c y 94.7 C e s o p r u p a r ride fo

timer or a health nut It doesn't matter if you're a hardcore pro cyclist, a first ther, have fun and because this challenge is for everyone! Let's ride toge rs! make a positive change to the destiny of our future leade

132 • DO IT NOW Magazine October | November 2012

hunger and thirst foundation Be a part of the DO IT NOW for the HUNGER AND THIRST FOUNDATION team that is taking part in Jo’burg’s toughest race, the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, on 11 November (MTB) and 18 November (road race) 2012. With a favourable starting time of 08h14 secured for the road race, and tons of fun to be had along the route, your efforts will be richly rewarded by helping us raise funds for the Hunger and Thirst Foundation, a non-profit organisation that believes in changing the future by investing in our future leaders today.

About The Hunger AND Thirst Foundation

Founded in 2006, the Hunger and Thirst Foundation (H&T) develops future leaders by feeding and helping disadvantaged children with their homework and sport, thereby improving their school results and developing sport talents. In the process H&T grows leadership principles in children, helping them to understand that a better education means a better future. It also empowers communities by creating jobs.

Leadership centres

The H&T leadership centres are true prevention centres. Many of the children in poorer communities have nobody to help them with their homework; often their own parents are not schooled. Something as basic as this helps build a child's morale, opens up more and better opportunities, and makes it possible to qualify for a higher education.

The centres run from 12h00 to 16h00 in the afternoon at the school premises. The total time is divided into 30 minute sessions consisting of various activities.

These activities include the following: a lunch session, games, homework with a Homework Coach, sport with a Sport Coach, H&T life skills lesson with a Mentor and various others activities.

Furthermore the centres provide a safe environment to communicate with children about HIV/AIDS, crime and other challenges they will face in their environment. These children are highly susceptible to influence - both negative and positive. Spending time with the children thus ensures that they receive the correct information and as much positive influence as possible. Other benefits of the leadership school centres include improved passing rates for schools, more children are fed, the children receive wider exposure and they are a safe environment for the children to go to after school.

134 • DO IT NOW Magazine October | November 2012

Testimonials from principles, teachers and parents confirm that the H&T children are indeed becoming the leaders/examples the foundation anticipated. They pay more attention in class, partake more, are more respectful at school and home, and the like.

Creating opportunities

Job creation is a major challenge in South Africa and H&T has a unique solution. The after-school centres employ coaches from the local communities to help the children. These coaches are previous year's matriculants, who are currently unemployed. To fulfill this role they are trained as life skills coaches and are also given the opportunity to be trained as a soccer coach. This way they earn a great recognised qualification, valuable experience and the opportunity to build a reference on their CV.

Be a part of the DO IT NOW Team

Our aim is to have a 'tour de force' team of 200 riders, all riding in our team jersey. We invite all corporates, SMME’s and individuals to be a part of this heart-warming cause and also engage friends, families and networks to get involved too - because together we can make a difference. For as little as R247.50 per month, a child's destiny can be changed forever!

The options available are as follows: • BUSINESSES - For a sponsorship fee of R3,000 the business can proudly display their logo on the team jersey, which every entrant in the team will receive. This money will go towards feeding, equipping and restoring dreams, as well as changing a child’s destiny for a year. Our ultimate goal is for companies to continue supporting that child on an ongoing basis. In return, the Hunger and Thirst Foundation will provide quarterly feedback in the form of a progress report on the children's improvements in the areas of Body Mass Index, school attendance, school marks and sporting development and achievements.

Armed with this knowledge, sponsors can be assured that their contribution is making a positive and life-changing difference to the children and our society. All contributions made by businesses will earn points on their B-BBEE scorecard for Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and these sponsorships are also income tax deductible.

• I NDIVIDUALS - There are various options open to individuals.

You can make a donation per kilometre and this will go into a pool that will be used to assist a child or children.

Sponsorship per kilometre forms can be designed on request. Alternatively, you can approach businesses big or small - for sponsorship per kilometre, or base the sponsorship on bettering your time from previous 94.7 Challenges. For example, beat your previous time by five minutes and the business sponsors a child for a year; beat it by 10 minutes and the business sponsors two children for a year and so on. Let’s make this FUN!

inDULGE:

Words by Neil Ross, Executive Chef

Become a part of our team:

Step 1

Enter the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Race on www.cyclechallenge.co.za/

Step 2

Send your proof of entry and ID Number to cheryl@doitnow.co.za

Step 3

Help us make the dream of feeding and educating our children a reality

A day in the life of a pupil

Henry goes to school, it is a two kilometre walk from his home and he is joined by his friends.

The school bell rings at 07h30 and he starts another day. Instead of going home after school, Henry stays behind because he is enrolled in the Leadership and Sports Academy (LSA), and that makes him a Young Leader.

During the registration period at the LSA Henry receives his after-school meal, which is packed with vitamins and minerals that these young leaders need to grow up healthy. Today he starts with sport first and a LSA Sport Coach takes the group of 15 outside to hone their skills. Thereafter he has a mentor period, during which time valuable leadership and life skills lessons are taught to him by a respected figure in the community.

As soon as that is finished, it's back to working on his future in the homework period, where a Homework Coach helps the group with their homework assignments. Henry's mother and father work late, so it's nice to have someone who explains the difficult things to him. Henry's day is finished and he goes home to play with his friends. It's a good day because he invested in his own future. Children like Henry need a helping hand to reach their full potential and realise their dreams. Are you ready to extend yours? •

DINfo box i For more info contact Cheryl Whelan, DO IT NOW Magazine Cycle Race Team Leader on cheryl@doitnow.co.za

Serves 4 ThIS recipe is really simple to make and packed with flavour.

Courgette & Ricotta Pasta Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil 1 shallot, finely chopped 4 courgettes, halved and thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 300g/11oz pasta shapes Small bunch basil, chopped Zest of 1 lemon 50g/2oz Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated, plus extra to serve (optional) 50g/2oz pine nuts, toasted 250g tub ricotta Method: 1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Cook the shallot and courgettes for 8 minutes until softened. When they are just beginning to colour, add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.

2. Cook the pasta as per the pack instructions. Drain and reserve a little of the water. Tip the pasta into the courgette pan and add the basil, lemon zest, Parmesan and pine nuts. Season, dot over the ricotta and mix gently so that you don’t break it up too much. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan, if you like, and serve.

Bon appétit!

www.doitnow.co.za | Lifestyle • 135