Cape Town - Although he won’t be taking part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday, Kfm morning radio host Ryan O’Connor will be drumming up support for the Children’s Hospital Trust in honour of his nine-month-old daughter, Faith.
He told the Cape Argus that fatherhood was the “highlight” of his life.
O’Connor, who has competed in the Cycle Tour, will be helping to raise funds for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, where his young daughter was treated. The hospital is planning a R10 million infrastructure upgrade of its paediatric intensive care unit, which already boasts world-class facilities.
The Children’s Hospital Trust is among five charities that will be hoping to benefit from a new online charity portal.
The others are PinkDrive, Tshwane Urban Riders, Velokhaya Life Cycling Academy and Marsh Memorial Homes, all of which have relied on the support of local celebrities such as O’Connor to campaign for the online charity portal ctctfundracers.co.za.
O’Connor said the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital was a special place. He said parents were always devastated to see children suffering, especially their own.
“We’re highly fortunate to have the best, selfless doctors who protect and look after our children. It’s close to all of our hearts, especially to parents.”
The online portal aims to turn the Cape Town Cycle Tour into the world’s largest fundraising cycle race.
Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde and Momentum’s head of sponsorship, Carel Bosman, are preferring to fundraise while on the saddle.
Winde, a keen cyclist, has chosen Velokhaya Life Cycling as his charity of choice, saying: “I believe that you have to ride this Cycle Tour for a reason, preferably for a charity or a cause.
“I bought a charity entry to ride for Iris House Children’s Hospice. And the cause I’m riding for is Velokhaya which creates the most amazing opportunities for young cyclists.”
PinkDrive’s Chantal Rall, who is currently battling cancer, is encouraging cyclists to donate too.
The fundracers, who will be cycling on behalf on the charities, require the support of their friends, family and the public who are able to make direct payments into the cause, safely and easily through PayFast.
Cape Argus