KNYSNA NEWS - It's all systems go for 24 September when the Lions Karoo to Coast mountain bike challenge takes place.
All proceeds from the event, in its 18th year, go to charity.
Rider-inspired projects
Camargue underwriters' specialised liability chair Mitch Marescia and his team have started an incredible project whereby they have raised funds to build classrooms for the Avontuur LB School. Marescia's love of the event was one of the contributing factors to initiating this fundraising effort to give back to the community on the race route.
“We are at all times looking to use local unemployed labour, ensuring permanent skills transfer, as well as supporting local suppliers. Buco Knysna, sponsors of the race, has been sterling in providing us with heavily discounted building supplies and arranging for these to be transported at no cost," says Mareschia.
"As a result of the excellent progress made, the school has been asked to take on additional children from a neighbouring district. The regional authorities have been impressed by the Camargue initiative and are pledging more support for the efforts of principal Baxter and team in the uplifting of this rural community school. In addition to the three classrooms, three more mobile units have been built and so, who says good news, goodwill and positivity is not contagious?”
Water tanks for KHS
In May 2017 the Lions also donated two 5 000-litre tanks, gutters and a pump to the Knysna High School finish venue. The motivation behind this was to help alleviate the drought in the area by capturing water from the ablution facility roof and also to allow riders to shower after the event.
Empowering local women
The event has taken another positive and conscious step this year in order to give back to local communities. The Knysna-based Hands Design Collective will be making the finisher and winners' medals for the first time this year. They are a local female-owned cooperative empowering women through craft and skills training. The collective offers support to 30 local designers and handcrafters through job creation and skills training.
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