Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA), with its twenty-five member team took to the Cape Argus Cycle Tour in the ‘I Cycle Challenge’ in order to raise for their Africa Water Project on Sunday. While the team managed to complete the strenuous cycle course around the picturesque city, IRSA ambassador and VOC presenter, Irfaan Abrahams said the entire experience was not as easy as everyone expected. For the first time, ‘Vinnage Fanie’ did a tandum race with his 11 year old son Hanaan, who looks set to follow in his energetic dad’s footsteps.

Earlier this week, the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust announced that the route will be shortened due to closed roads in the Mother City, after devastating fires ravaged much of the mountainous areas included in the cycle route.

“There were a lot of blessings in the 47km. It was not as easy as everyone thought it would be. However, we stood in solidarity with those fire-fighters who put their lives in danger to protect our beautiful city and its residents,” Abrahams said.

However, IRSA did not forget their promise, in raising the much needed funds for its water project, aimed at addressing the scarcity of water in many parts of Africa. IRSA spokesperson, Shanaaz Ebrahim-Gire explained that throughout the challenge, much like the support Capetonians offered to their fire-fighters in their hour of need, they were encouraged to come forward and extend that help to their fellow Africans through generous donations for the establishment of water wells.

“It was an absolutely amazing atmosphere. We are trying to raise awareness for the water project and the scarcity of water on the African continent. South Africans can show their support by logging onto our Facebook page clicking on the ‘give and gain’ on-line link and hopefully the more money we raise, the more wells we can build,” Ebrahim-Gire explained. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)