Bikers for Mandela Day is one of the many activities taking place under the broader Mandela Day campaign.

1st for Women Insurance, via its charitable trust, the 1st for Women Foundation, again supported the group of bikers on their 2015 Bikers for Mandela Day journey.

Throughout the journey, the bikers distributed whistles to the organisations they visited, in support of Blow The Whistle, an anti-rape and women abuse organisation. Blow The Whistle is a national campaign that aims to empower women and children by giving them their voices back. The goal of the initiative is to provide women and children with the platforms necessary to feel safe.

Zelda la Grange, the convener of Bikers for Mandela Day and the Patron of the 1st for Women Foundation, says, “Bikers for Mandela Day was launched so that South Africa’s large biker community could pay tribute to Madiba and his legacy. Madiba strongly believed that small acts of kindness could change the world for the better and gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. Now it’s our turn to make a positive and sustainable difference to communities in need. Caring brings about change.”

The bikers participating in the initiative travelled from Johannesburg to Beaufort West, George, Knysna, Graaff Reinet and Bloemfontein.

“The bikers sustain the humanitarian legacy of Madiba by supporting a number of organisations. It is our hope that our actions will empower the communities we visited, and motivate them to take charge of their destinies and change their circumstances for the better,” says Robyn Farrell, executive head of 1st for Women Insurance.

On Friday, 17 July, the biker team visited the HM Dlikidla Primary School in Beaufort West to donate stationery and books. There was also a puppet show presented to the scholars educating them on the signs of abuse and abuse prevention.

The bikers then travelled to the Phambili Refuge Centre in George. This shelter was established in 1999 and provides a temporary place of safety for up to 25 women and children. The Biker team spent 67 minutes doing general repair work at the shelter. The 1st for Women Foundation also handed over a cheque of R50 000 to the organisation to strengthen their efforts.

On Saturday, 18 July, Nelson Mandela Day, the bikers started off in Knysna visiting residents of the Vermont Old Age Home, which houses about 60 elderly and frail people - many of whom have been neglected by their families. Blankets that had been knitted by the members of 67 Blankets for Mandela Day were handed out and hot water bottles and more blankets were donated by Shoprite Checkers.

The bikers have also sponsored the installation of electricity timers to the geysers of the old age home to reduce the cost of electricity - the highest expenditure at the home. This should result in savings both in units and KVA demand. While bikers spent time with the elderly, the residents were entertained by Karen Zoid while soup and treats sponsored by Conrad Pezula were served.

The Bikers then headed to the Chris Hani Centre to support FAMSA, a non-profit organisation that specialises in relationship counselling. The youngsters in the local community were treated to an educational puppet show, followed by a talk by Angie Khumalo and Mac Masina on healthy families and relationships and entertainment by Karen Zoid. The 1st for Women Foundation handed over a cheque or R50 000 to FAMSA to strengthen their work in the community. At the same time, some of the bikers worked on a vegetable garden at the home of a survivor of abuse.

The bikers then travelled to Graaff Reinet to participate in a commemoration event outside the Drostdy Hotel. There, hundreds of school children and members from the community joined the Bikers to light candles and sing in Madiba’s honour.

On Sunday, 19 July, the team was in Bloemfontein to assist Thessa New Beginnings, a social business with the aim of providing an alternative employment opportunity for vulnerable women trapped in poverty, abusive relationships, prostitution and other circumstances in which they are at risk. At this organisation, the bikers spent 67 minutes doing general maintenance, cleaning and painting. The 1st for Women Foundation handed over a cheque of R50 000 to the organisation.

“We are so proud to support this incredible initiative which aims to embed hope in communities that are in dire need of attention and support. Bikers for Mandela Day proves that small gestures of kindness can indeed make a huge difference and if celebrities are willing to roll up their sleeves and get dirty for a good cause, anyone can,” concludes Farrell.

Bikers for Mandela Day would like to thank the following sponsors: 1st for Women Insurance, Legacy Lifestyle, Auto Alpina, Meropa, Conrad Pezula, Nando's, The Drostdy Hotel, Shoprite/Checkers and Netcare 911.