THE ROTARY CLUB OF KNYSNA AND CYCLING

The members of the Rotary Club of Knysna and many helpers from the local community worked extremely hard during the year and over the first weekend of the Oyster Festival in Knysna to make such a huge success of the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour.

On Saturday, 4 July, 3822 Mountain bikers set off through the beautiful forests around Knysna. There were three different distances to ride, 85km, 46km and a 15km fun ride for the whole family. This is the second biggest timed mountain bike race in South Africa.

In the afternoon 700 children between the ages of 2 and 12 years cycled in and around Loerie Park, the Oyster Festival Grounds in Knysna. This race was sponsored by Pick n Pay and Spur and enjoyed by children and parents alike. On Sunday morning it was the Road Racers’ turn to participate in the Cycle Tour. More than 2000 bikers set off to ride two different distances, 100km and 50km respectively, on the N2 towards Port Elizabeth.

After the race all the cyclists and spectators had very positive reports about the organisation and hospitality they received in Knysna. All the money raised by the Rotary Club of Knysna from this event will be spent on community service projects for the betterment of the underprivileged in the community.

The Rotary Club of Knysna do not only organize cycle races but also promote Development Cycling and Safe Cycling.

Two years ago PP Lesley Satchel was approached by Glyn Broomberg who runs the Pick n Pay Ascends Cycling Programme to set up Development Cycling in Knysna.  He arranged for 15 bicycles and helmets, plus a bicycle mechanics course to be presented for cyclists and coaches at the Knysna Sports School.  Around the same time Eion Browne approached the Club on behalf of Claremont Rotary Club to combine with Knysna in a project.  They paid for a storage container, trailer for 15 bikes and bike washing facility at the Sports School.  PDG John Satchel handled many months of meetings and negotiations with the stakeholders in this project.

PDG John Satchel managed to acquire 12 more bicycles for the Knysna Sports School Development Cycling Programme through the Pedal Power Association. He arranged for the bicycles to be handed over at the Rotary Cycle Race on Saturday.

Now the Knysna Sport School has a very enthusiastic group of teenage cyclists, 27 bikes, a storage container, trailer and washing facility.  The Club is hoping to supply another storage container shortly.  The Rotary Club of Knysna hopes to get another donation of bicycles from PPA in a few months time.  A Rotary Club in Holland is also doing a 3-year Matching Grant with Knysna Rotary Club at the Knysna Sports School.

 Safe Cycling is a personal project of a lady Rotarian from Knoxville Rotary Club in Tennessee, USA. A few years ago some young people came to Knysna at the time of the Cycle Race.  They told Townes Osborne, about the kiddies race. Townes sent 1000 dollars for small children to ride in the Kiddies' Cycle Race and be given the bikes and helmets afterwards. The coach also started going to township schools every week and taught all the Grade 1's Safe Cycling.  PP Lesley Satchel had t-shirts printed (Knoxville to Knysna Rotary project) and 10 children rode in the race and received the bikes and helmets afterwards. Townes has now sent her 3rd sponsorship so that the project can continue, because her project "brings tears to her eyes!"  She is coming herself to Knysna next year, with some Interactors who want to come too, so she will be able to see for herself how it works.  The children who receive the bikes are ecstatic when they hear they can take the bikes home with them!

PP Lesley also managed to acquire a R10 000 donation for the Safe Cycling Project from Nedbank Local Heroes Project last year, and that has gone into the coffers at the Knysna Sports School.