Lindsay Engelbrecht of Bedfordview, a visually impaired athlete herself and first-time race director of the event, expressed her passion for para-sports and the importance of this event.
Engelbrecht has been competing as a visually impaired cyclist for five years. She noted that while only a few para cyclists were participating in previous years, last year saw an increase to 56 participants.
“This year’s event featured 48 new participants, demonstrating growth despite slight fluctuations. The goal is ambitious: to have over 100 para cyclists next year.”
Volunteers organise the race, which began in Benoni in 1989, under the leadership of Retina SA to raise money to fund projects finding treatment for retinal blindness.
Engelbrecht emphasised that being both organisers and beneficiaries makes this cause particularly close to her heart.
One of the standout performances came from Heinrich Vermaak of Alberton, who finished third in the DS24 62KM race with his pilot Jefferson Murdoch.
This was their second time racing together after knowing each other for two decades. Vermaak praised their partnership: “We complement each other well.” Their finish time was an impressive 1:47:45.
Murdoch echoed Vermaak’s sentiments about their teamwork: “Heinrich always keeps me focused even when I make mistakes.”
Engelbrecht extended words of encouragement to aspiring athletes with disabilities: “If you have a dream, fight for it. We are here to support you.
“For those interested, whether blind or visually impaired, the opportunity extends beyond cycling; anyone can reach out for more information or involvement in future events.”
As Engelbrecht looks forward to next year’s event with high hopes of increased participation from diverse groups within the disability community (including those with physical and mental disability), she emphasises that inclusivity is key to fostering growth and success in para-sports.
Background on inclusivity efforts
The journey towards greater inclusivity began when Engelbrecht realised how underrepresented visually impaired cyclists were at past events.
“I contact RetinaSA as a member seeking ways to increase participation among para cyclists. This initiative led not only to more involvement from existing groups but also expanded opportunities for individuals with various disabilities – such as mental health conditions or physical impairments like having one arm or one leg—to join in.”
Looking ahead, organisers plan significant expansions aimed at attracting even more participants across different categories within the disability spectrum such as increased participation, diverse involvement and awareness campaigns.
Engelbrecht went on to say that seeing so many people come together around such an important cause fills her heart.
“It’s amazing how much impact we can make by just giving back. We believe strongly in supporting initiatives like these. Inclusivity matters deeply.”
For anyone interested – whether blind/visually impaired looking into cycling options beyond current activities – or simply wanting more details on upcoming races including volunteer roles available please feel free to reach out via email: [email protected]
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Publish date : 2025-02-19 00:42:00
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