“Our ultimate goal is to raise awareness and funds for sufferers of leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders to assist The Sunflower Fund in growing the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR),” says Cecilia Hiemstra, whose husband, Tak received life-saving stem cells in 2013 from an unrelated donor found through the SABMR.

The tour starts at the Grasmere toll plaza and ends in Cape Town on Friday, 6 March. The cyclists will rest in Kroonstad, Bloemfontein, Colesberg, Richmond, Beaufort West, Matjesfontein and Paarl before they make a grand entry into the Mother City. The MEC of Health Qedani Mahlangu will be cycling the first leg to Kroonstad. Sunflowers will line the last few hundred meters into Cape Town and the team will be accompanied by stem cell survivors on their bikes.

“This is not an easy task, however we will be paying tribute to the incredible struggle and suffering of those patients fighting for their lives,” says Annelies Lievens, the tour captain, who has made the trip all the way from Belgium to join the team. Lievens is a former South African cyclist.

Four tandems and three single bikes will ride through the Free State and the Karoo with two support vehicles who will provide the snacks and drinks at regular stops. They will be responsible for mechanical support and other logistics throughout the ride.

‘Spreading light and hope across South Africa’ is the slogan on the riding gear. Over the eight days, the cyclists have planned to stop over at local hospitals, to visit the oncology wards, with the aim of encouraging patients suffering from cancer. Be on the lookout and give your support to these brave men and women passing through your town.

Funds raised through this event will assist The Sunflower Fund to educate, recruit and pay the test costs for potential bone marrow stem cell donors to join the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

The ‘Sunflower Tour of Light’ concludes with a fundraising banquet at De Grendel Restaurant in Durbanville on Friday, 6 March and is followed by the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday, 8 March.

“On behalf of The Sunflower Fund and The Sunflower Tour of Light Team, we would like to offer our profound thanks to Europcar, JSE, Computershare, Cyclelab, Sasfin and Reckitt Benckiser for their valuable sponsorships without whom, the Tour would not be possible,” added Hiemstra.

If one would like to help these selfless cyclists with a donation towards this cause; phone Shelby Zimmerman, PR & Events Specialist for The Sunflower Fund, Gauteng on +27 11 781-4200; Toll-free 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za.