180km ride to fight covid
Colleta Dewa
Johannesburg – Ten South African riders – the “Cyclists Against COVID-19” – last weekend embarked on a 180km journey to spread awareness of COVID-19 and to encourage wearing of face masks.
Pedalling from Johannesburg in Gauteng Province to Sun City in North West Province, the cyclists engaged communities on coronavirus awareness and distributed face masks.
Their leader, Mr Refilwe Mkgosi, said “We are lending a hand by giving away these masks as we intensify the fight against the pandemic. We are just here to remind these communities that wearing masks is still the way to go. The COVID-19 pandemic is still leaving a trail, it is real and people are being infected.”
Mr Mkgosi emphasised that the fight against the global pandemic was everyone’s responsibility.
“The world needs a collective effort if we are to win against this disease. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure the next person is safe. As cyclists, we urge everyone to mask up that’s why we are helping communities with these masks.”
Chairperson of South Africa’s Pedal Power Association, Mr Steve Hayward, earlier said cyclists should lead by example through wearing their masks always.
“We appeal to cyclists across South Africa not only to consider fellow South Africans, but especially the health workers who are under so much pressure because of the high infection rates, and set an example by wearing their masks whilst cycling, thus making cycling a part of the solution, not the problem,” Mr Hayward said.
South Africa – like many other nations – has started vaccinating key populations against COVID-19, but authorities have been at pains to reinforce the message that wearing of masks, washing/sanitising of hands and observance of social distancing remain the key pillars in the battle to control the pandemic.
