Diverso Takes On THE500 D4D Challenge

On the 12th and 13th of October 2019, Distance For Difference organized the fourth edition of THE500 event, hosted at NH The Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West.  This special event aimed to raise R1 million where fifty percent of the funds raised are donated to PATCH Helderberg Child Abuse Centre, while the other fifty percent goes towards various children charities supported by D4D.

In the words of Stéphan Pieterse from Distance For Difference: “How does one sum up an event filled with so many highlights and very very special moments? To say it was a grand, overwhelming, joyous, humorous, remarkable, awe-inspiring, humbling, challenging, and very very satisfying experience, would perhaps just touch the outer edges of a complete description of the event.”

Diverso’s team, amongst other corporates and social teams, were invited to occupy a spinning bike for 24 hours (from 11am on the Saturday morning until 11am on the Sunday morning). At the spinning challenge inside the hotel, members and employees from more than 20 groups and organizations had a lot of fun, occupying their spinning bikes for one or more of the 24 45-minute sessions. These were energetically led by a number of wonderful instructors who constantly encouraged everyone to get out of their comfort zones, to smile more and to sweat more. Diverso employees and their family members completed this challenge by occupying their spinning bike for the full 24 hours.  At the same time there were six remarkable individuals attempting to spin for all 24 sessions – five succeeded!

Meanwhile, on the hilly tar roads between Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Kuilsriver and the dusty ones of Lourensford Wine Estate, Hennie du Toit and Ettienne Botha from Diverso and 18 other cyclists attempted to cycle 500 km in 24 hours!  It was warm.  It was cold.  It was dusty.  It was windy.  It was extremely tiring!  After 23 hours and 55 minutes and about 6,474 meters of elevation gain, a bunch of new friends who shared something very special, crossed the finish line together with the famous “Chariots of Fire” triggering more than just a few tears.  Eleven, including Hennie du Toit, managed to ride all 500 km!  A “tunnel of love” was formed by all the spinners, family members and friends, and the cyclists were welcomed back into the Grand Ballroom with more tears flowing.  The MC, Colin Heckroodt, also deserves a medal!  For 24 hours he was like an energizer bunny, encouraging the spinners and cyclists to keep going, informing the crowd of the reason behind it all, sharing the stories from the beneficiaries who benefit from the work of D4D, and ending the event with a precious prayer, giving glory to our Heavenly Father for an unforgettable event.

After the event, the fundraising total stood just shy of R600,000. Yes, still some way off the R1 Million target, but an amount that will have a noticeable impact on the lives of many vulnerable children!

D4D aims to host another one of these events in 2021 so be sure not to miss it!

This newsletter is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE).