#CaxtonCares — Charity cycling event raises important awareness and funds
The Ebenezer Psychiatric home is in need of funding to care for their residents and make sure they are fed and healthy every day.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, 19 May on the slightly hilly road just a few minutes drive into the Cradle of Humankind, slightly more than 560 cyclists showed up on the day, gears clicking, helmets tightened and fire in their veins for the road ahead.At 7am, the 15km group started off, shortly followed by those taking on the 50km trek.
By 9.30am most cyclists in both groups had arrived at the finish line, with the last few coming in at about 10am. This cycle event was hosted by Ebenezer House, a home that helps, house and protect mentally ill adults as best they can.
Caxton Joburg West showed they cared and decided to man a water table 5km from the start/ finish line. Journalists, a sales rep and the editor of the News, came together to help quench the thirst of the cyclists.
This event enabled Ebenezer House to collect enough funds to last them for about six weeks. With these proceeds, they’ll need to feed and house 23 residents.
With winter fast approaching, they’ll need quite a lot more help than this, and will be looking to the public to help them take care of their residents. Food will be the most important, and greatly appreciated by the centre’s staff. Warm clothes, blankets and cash donations will also be very important going forward.
A special thank you goes to the following people and organisations, all of whom helped with the water table:
• The journalists from the Roodepoort Record and Roodepoort Northsider, Tshegofatso Seleke and Thabilsile Mgwali, the News’ journalists, Natasha Pretorius and Jaco Human, and the Auto Dealer sales rep, Pierre Welthagen
• Damian de Canha of Monument Liquor Warehouse for the water and ice
• Rita and her team from West Rand Pack Krugersdorp West for the cups and plastic bags
• The spouses of the News’ team – Nico Pretorius and Herman Viljoen, as well as Natasha’s nephews, Martin Kriel and Pieter Barkhuizen
If you wish to help the home out, contact their office on 011 955 6595, visit their premises at 5 Ham Street, Witpoortjie, or make a payment into their bank account, as follows:Bank: Standard Bank Branch code: 016641 Account number: 220 248 117Account Name: Ebenezer HousePlease use the reference ‘Bell of Hope’.
