50 towns, 3000km, 1 purpose

MOKOPANE - Azhar Vadi and Zaheer Pahad will be cycling 3000km from Musina to Cape Town to raise awareness for schools in dire need in South Africa. Vadi rode into Mokopane on Thursday morning and visited Arons Sports and Akasia Primary School. "A single human touch is enough to break ages of separation," he wrote on his Facebook page, referring to a video showing him shaking hands with keen primary school children.

The Salaam Foundation and Salaamedia #Riding4SAeducation campaign got off to a rolling start on Tuesday, 7 February, morning from the border town Musina in the Limpopo province. Two cyclists and directors at Salaam Foundation, Azhar Vadi and Zaheer Pahad the first leg of their journey reaching Louis Trichardt in just over five hours. They plan to cycle a total of 3000km finally ending at Cape Point in the Western Cape.

The epic ride is aimed at raising awareness around the needs of basic education in South Africa particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas. Along with the awareness campaign they are also calling on donors to support the Salaam Foundation in its quest to implement several education development projects.

“We would like to build toilets in schools without these basic facilities,” said Vadi. “Many schools in rural SA still use pit latrines. We have received requests for simple kitchen structures to assist in preparing food for learners.”

Riding 100 kilometres on average every day has certainly been no easy task. “We are social and recreational riders and by no means professional. Getting our fitness levels up has been a tough task but we are determined to try our best,” said Pahad.

The route is expected to take the two down the R101 to Johannesburg where Pahad will stop and then Vadi will continue east on the N17. He will branch off at Standerton and head south towards Newcastle, Ladysmith, Pietermaritzburg and Durban. From there it’s the N2 all the way Cape Town.

The journey can be followed on Twitter and Instagram @salaamedia and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/salaamedia.

People will to contribute to the education fund can make a donation to:

FNB Account no: 62669147665 (reference: ride4edu-Mokopane). Donations can also be dropped off at Arons Sport at 87 Thabo Mbeki Street, Mokopane.