To all our loyal cyclists who participated in the 33^rd Dis-Chem Ride for Sight.

Together with the favourable weather and competitive cycling, you made the event the success it was.

Congrats to Joshua Van Wyk, the winner of the 116km Super Classic, Josh won on the day sans the support of a team – coming from behind to win a fast and furious bunch sprint for the line. In doing so he secured the Ernest Hunt Trophy.

The ladies title went to one of SA’s top women’s cyclists, Carla Oberholzer, who also took bronze at the recent SA Champs.

The field of 2486 participant’s braved uncertainty and embraced the frustrations of the restrictions imposed, as a result of the current covid state-of-things. There were the inevitable “tar-surfers”, but fortunately very few serious injuries, thanks, no doubt, to the generous sponsorship of 2 tons of tar from Actop Asphalt. This was for emergency pothole filling carried out by Hamnet volunteers prior to race day.

Your official race time is available at www.racetec.co.za from where you will shortly be able to download your event e-certificate.

Livall Helmets have kindly extended their customised special offer to event participants and you are able to purchase their range of smart-helmets at up to a 50% discount. Visit their website: www.livall.co.za and capture coupon code: R4S50 prior to making payment.

Thank you to all who supported the event donation draw, your combined contribution of R19 840 will be matched by the Dis-Chem Foundation. These funds are ear-marked to fund the specific genetic testing of children from impoverished backgrounds.

Winners of the donation draw prizes were: (1) Gerdre Noeth – holiday for 2 at Michamvi Sunset Bay resort in Zanzibar; and (2) Lindsey Leatherbarrow who won the Silverback Strela road bike from Cycle Lab.

Lindsey Leatherbarrow (Left), Claudette Medefindt (Race Secretary) (Right)

All proceeds from the event are allocated to supporting research and empowerment projects for people who are losing their vision to retinal blindness.

Together with our participants, we at Retina South Africa thank all our willing event sponsors in their various capacities. A big shout-out must go to our headline sponsor Dis-Chem Pharmacies for their continued support of this long-standing event. Without sponsors, the cost of entering this and similar events would be onerous.

We thank all our volunteers and their respective organisations for their contributions towards ensuring the continued success of this event – Hamnet, Accident Angels Road Rangers, Springs Wheelers, Red Cross, our safety officer Renier van den Berg, our starter Rob van Deventer, our superb MC Johnny Koen, race officials from CSA, traffic officers from EMPD, Midvaal and Lesedi, our marshals from Gallopers, Cosnaths Combi, and Rotary clubs,  security from Duma Tactile, and excellent medical service from Dial-a-Medic, Retina SA staff and volunteers. You were all magnificent.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies and Retina South Africa look forward to hosting you at the next year’s event where we hope you will once again CYCLE TO RESTORE THE GIFT OF SIGHT.

A Word from Our Sponsors

We wish you a fulfilling year of cycling.

The Dis-Chem Ride for Sight Team