Friday, 03 February 2012

Pedal power for charity

Hoping to secure the education of at least one child, Jessica Lawrie will ride for NGO Afrika Tikkun in the upcoming Cape Argus Cycle Tour

Jessica Lawrie (26) is on her bike once again - this time for a charity called Afrika Tikkun. In 2010 this athletic young Mtunzini girl embarked on a mammoth 2 100km month-long cycle around Vietnam in aid of Vietnamese children, 150 000 of whom are suffering from the after effects of chemical warfare. This year Lawrie will tackle the Cape Argus Cycle Tour on Sunday 11 March. Afrika Tikkun is a NGO that provides education, health and social services to children, youth and their families through centres of excellence in South African townships.

Their aim is to empower communities to develop new generations of productive citizens and the project is endorsed by Nelson Mandela. Her goal is to raise a minimum of R2 160, which is enough for a year’s schooling for one child. Lawrie is excited about what she feels will be ‘a huge personal challenge’. But her motivation is that ‘by crossing the finish line, I am hoping to secure the education of even just one child. ‘In this way I am hoping that I, along with the cool people who join me on this journey, will have contributed to the upliftment of the South African community. ‘The Argus is just less than two months away and I am looking for some community support to reach my goal.’ Lawrie’s donations page is http://www.beasport.org.za/champion/project/jessridesagain.