The Takealot Tour of Good Hope road race will again show its support for the community by raising awareness of the Olive Children’s Foundation when it takes place in the Cape Winelands next month.
The Takealot Tour of Good will have the Olive Children’s Foundation as its charity when it takes place in the Cape Winelands from March 4 to 8. Photo: Robert Ward
South Africa’s premier road cycling tour will be held from March 4 to 8 and ASG Events chief executive Erick Oosthuizen said the partnership with the foundation was the “perfect fit”.
“Since its founding in 2006, ASG Sport Solutions has been as passionate about development and making a difference to the community as it is about cycling,” he said.
“Known for bringing innovative, sometimes rare, brands to consumers, this fits in with the aims of the Olive Children’s Foundation (OCF) as it was established to bring relief to families of children with rare and life-threatening conditions.”
OCF advertising and public relations manager Megan Schumann said the connection with the Tour of Good Hope had resulted in a wonderful response and commitment to the foundation.
She added that the cyclists could support the support the foundation in several ways.
“On entering, the riders will have the opportunity to make a donation to the foundation and be exposed to the charity, as well as buying the specialised limited edition ASG cycling gear branded with OCF logos.
“At the end of the tour, there will be blood donation stations for supporters and riders to register and even donate blood if they are up to it.”
With the slogan of “Save a Life, it’s in your Blood”, the foundation was named after a young girl, Olive, who was just six weeks old when she went into heart failure due to the anaemia caused by a rare genetic disorder – Diamond-Blackfan Anaemia (DBA).
Schumann said DBA resulted in bone marrow failure, early onset cancers and congenital abnormalities, which required patients to receive regular blood transfusions and medical treatment throughout their lives.
She added that the OCF had three main goals.
“One is to create a space for doctors to research and learn about incredibly rare conditions such as DBA.
“The second is to establish a registry across Africa to enable relief of the diagnosis and treatment costs and uncertainty for the families of affected children.
“And thirdly we want to create an out-patient infusion clinic for children requiring regular blood transfusions and chronic IV therapies.”
In particular, she said, the vision of the Olive Children’s Infusion Clinic had the potential of becoming a reality through the generous partnership with ASG Sport Solutions.
