Knights Recognised by Retina SA

Posted on by Andrew Connold

The Rotary Club of Knights Pendragon was recently recognised by Retina SA with a Retina SA Chairman’s Award in recognition of the 25 years of providing marshals for theirannual Ride for Sight fundraising event, as well as the “Best Marshaling” floating trophy for their efforts in the 2018 event.

Past President Mike de Beer, receiving the Retina SA Chairman’s Award on behalf of the Rotary Club of Knights Pendragon

DIS-CHEM RIDE FOR SIGHT 2018

Sponsored by DisChem Pharmacies and hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni, the 30th edition of the Ride for Sight was held on Sunday, 18th February 2018. The tremendous support and sponsorship received, ensures the continued success of this, the Retina SA’s premier fund raising event which this year raised over R10M for research in South Africa, with all the proceeds going directly to Retina SA’s Research and Development Project at the University of Cape Town.

The Ride is mostly managed and manned by volunteers, and is dependant on the many dedicated cyclists who cycle to help restore the gift of sight. In spite of the decreasing numbers at many cycling events, Ride for Sight was able to maintain a field of over 5000 cyclists again this year.

Winners of the Dis-Chem Ride for Sight Super Classic were Reynard Butler and Carla Oberholzer, fresh from her win at the SA Ladies Road Racing event.

The Ride also supports cycling teams who are working to develop the sport in the Ekurhuleni community. The East Rand Cycling team have shown amazing growth and this year had 32 riders participating, with three team members cycling in the Elite and under 23 category with the cream of SA cyclists. Other teams who were supported are the Bhon4Kasi Club from Soweto and the junior team from Urban Ruins. Urban Ruins is a remarkable NPO that is making a huge difference in the lives of talented youth in need of support and redirection.

At the recent prize giving supper, Chairman’s awards for service to the event were given to: Jean Bowler, Hamnet Emergency Communications, Mervyn van Reenen, BestMed Road Rangers, Marius van Zyl and the Rotary Club of Knights Pendragon, who also received the best marshal team award. Further special recognition was also given to Jean Bowler, treasurer of Retina South Africa since it’s inception and Derek McEwan from Dis-Chem Pharmacies.