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Cyclists ride Pretoria to Oudtshoorn for mental health

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Sonop Christelike Tehuis, a leading male residence at the University of Pretoria presents Drommedaris VIII. Drommedaris is a longstanding tradition that is held every second year in aid of those in need. This cycle tour stretches from Pretoria to Oudtshoorn – an astonishing 1 380km in 10 days. The group of approximately 80 students will be stopping at more than 21 towns, including the KKNK and Noupoort’s Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre on our way. Drommedaris is an endurance tour where the students will also have the opportunity to rely on each other and establish lifelong bonds and skills.

Interesting facts about Drommedaris:

  • The students who participate int his TUKS RAG project have to pay for it out of their own pockets.
  • The Sonop mechanical engineering students designed the Drommedaris bicycle themselves.
  • The participants are not professional athletes; they are ordinary students who, on average, cycle no more than 5km per day.
  • The Drommedaris tours have been taking place since 1966. More recent tours have taken place during 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

The aim of Drommedaris this year is to raise funds for the South African Federation for Mental Health, Eljada and Sonop Christelike Tehuis. Equally important, however, is the fact that the students wish to raise awareness around mental health issues such as the state of psychiatric hospitals in South Africa. One of the Sonop residents was admitted to Weskoppies in his first year. He has recovered and now believes that people have a distorted idea about mental illness. Therefore, the aim is to lead an awareness campaign for mental health.

Tour programme

Day 1 – 21 March 2013 – Pretoria – Heidelberg

Day 2 – 22 March 2013 – Heidelberg – Parys

Day 3 – 23 March 2013 – Parys – Bothaville

Day 4 – 24 March 2013 – Bothaville – Bultfontein

Day 5 – 25 March 2013 – Bultfontein – Bloemfontein

Day 6 – 26 March 2013 – Bloemfontein – Trompsburg

Day 7 – 27 March 2013 – Trompsburg – Noupoort

Day 8 – 28 March 2013 – Noupoort – Graaf Reinet

Day 9 – 29 March 2013 – Graaf Reinet – Willowmore

Day 10 – 30 March 2013 – Willowmore – Oudtshoorn

Day 11 – 31 March 2013 – KKNK

Day 12 – 01 April 2013 – Back to Sonop, Pretoria

The South African Federation, together with Sonop Christelike Tehuis, asks the public to support this awareness campaign initiated and organised by the students.

For more info, contact Jédri van der Westhuizen on 079 898 9446.

 
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