Boys at an Athlone orphanage are thrilled with their new bicycles.
The Life Kingsbury Hospital and Active Bodies Sports Development, a non-profit promoting youth fitness, donated the eight bikes to the St Francis Children’s Home on Wednesday January 23.
The home’s operations manager, Fatima Levy, said many of the boys knew how to ride a bike but didn’t have their own.
The home for boys was established in 1919 after many children were left orphaned by the 1918 flu pandemic.
It is home to 45 boys, from different social backgrounds ranging in age from 3 to 18, who have been placed there by court order.
“The children didn’t know about the handover so this is a surprise for them. It is the first time that they are receiving something like this, and the looks on their faces just says it all. All donations are welcome at any time,” Ms Levy said.
ActiveBodies chairperson Abbas Harris also gave each child at the home a cycling jersey.
“Many kids don’t have access to a bicycle, and living actively is something that kids must do. Our objective is to donate bikes to an organisation every month. We started four months ago, and so far we have donated about 80 bikes,” he said.
The non-profit tries to get a group of 50 to 60 children to the Cape Town Cycle Tour every year.
Together they train on Saturday mornings and this year Active Bodies has chosen pupils from Alexander Sinton High School.
To raise money, the non profit also enters a team of professional cyclists in the Coronation Double Century race in Swellendam, held annually on the last Saturday of November.
The 12 volunteers compete for the R10 000 prize money, which is donated to charity.
“We have won the race twice now and are hoping to do the same this year,” Mr Harris said.
Brothers Denzil Fewers, 9, and Danwill Fewers, 11, couldn’t wait to try out the new bikes.
“I know how to ride a bike and I am very excited to ride it,” said Danwill.
For more information about the home or to make donations, call Fatima Levy at 083 752 2299 or email fatima@saintfranciscycc.com
