I’ve signed up with my sister and Hugh to do the Cape Argus in aid of TB Alert….

The Cape Argus is 110km around Cape Town - Lance Armstrong finished ninth in 2009. After the race he said “Hats off to all the riders out there, won't be easy in that wind. Cold beers tonight!"

 

Starting up:

My initial aspirations of getting a pretty bike with a basket were dashed once I realised that this was not only a challenge but a race… so off to the cycle shop I went and bought a lovely sensible bike that had a carbon fork and everything (the knowledge base I have now!). This bike promptly got stolen a mere week after owning it and a very expensive 20 minute cycle….

 

So I picked up my ego and did a locum shift and have bought the same bike again which now lives in my bedroom just as all the bikes of the serious cyclists I know!

 

The Race:

The race is one of South Africa's three 'largest sporting events' in the world. With as many as 31 000 cyclists taking part, it is the world's largest individually timed cycle race. The other two are the world's largest ultramarathon event, the Comrades Marathon, as well as the world's largest open water swim, the Midmar Mile.

The Argus forms the last leg of the Giro del Capo, a multi-stage race for professional and leading registered riders.

 

It is traditionally staged on the second Sunday of March and has enjoyed well known competitors such as Miguel Indurain, Jan Ulrich and Lance Armstrong.

 

Why TB Alert:

With our Zimbabwean roots and my Respiratory interest TB Alert seemed like the perfect charity to support.

 

TB (tuberculosis) is a problem both here and across the world.

In the UK last year there were over 8,400 cases of TB, and nearly 500 deaths from the disease. Whilst in 2006 (the last year for which we have full statistics) there were more new diagnoses of TB than HIV, Hepatitis C, Stomach cancer or Leukaemia.

 

Worldwide TB kills nearly two million people every year (3 people every minute), even though it is curable. Most deaths occur because patients don’t know a cure is available or are unable to access it.

 

What TB Alert does about the problem:

• TB Alert raises awareness of TB to ensure people are diagnosed without delays and before they pass on the disease to other people. 
• TB Alert increases access to effective treatment works by eliminating barriers such as poverty, geography, stigma and discrimination.
• TB Alert supports patients to make sure they complete their treatment (incomplete treatment risks drug resistance – much harder to treat, and practically a death sentence in poor countries)

 

Furthermore TB Alert is a small charity with low overheads and as such all of your generous donations will go directly to supporting their important work.

 

I would be so grateful if you could please sponsor us in this and raise some much needed money for a very worthwhile cause!

 

I’ll update you on the progress of the training…