GEORGE NEWS - The extreme endurance cyclist Grant Lottering successfully completed his #24hour4dreams endurance ride on 1 November, cycling up and down the all-gravel Montagu Pass outside George 20 times in 24 hours.
"I rode with the names of 30 children battling life-threatening illnesses on my handlebars, the goal being to have a dream fulfilled each time I summit the pass," said Lottering in a press release. He is also a national conference speaker and Laureus Sport for Good Ambassador.
He said the support was overwhelming, and by Saturday morning, over R150 000 had already been raised, including a R100 000 donation from the Universal Healthcare Foundation.
"This amount was enough to accomplish my goal, and make an additional ten dreams come true. Fulfilling the dreams of 30 children certainly made the suffering worthwhile!”
During the 24-hour attempt, Lottering climbed a total of 8 640m, the elevation gain of each summit being 432m over a distance of 6,7km. The descent to his base at the restored Old Toll House after each summit similarly was mentally exhausting as he needed to keep concentrating, especially maneuvering the numerous corners of the cliff-hugging road in the dark of night.
Lottering achieved his Reach for a Dream goal to raise money for 30 children.
Julia Sotirianakos, chief executive officer of Reach for a Dream, said when Grant approached them with this idea they thought it would be impossible.
"But impossible is what we do for our children every day. Grant's sheer determination and passion has sent our children, their families and the entire South Africa a clear message - if you have a dream, and you believe, then it can come true. Grant is an inspiration to all of us at the Foundation, his strength, hope and courage are what we stand for, and he is our hero!"
Lottering said he had an incredible support team during the 24 hours.
"Thanks to my sponsors, Mercedes-Benz SA, CompCare Medical Scheme and Air Mauritius, we were able to plan this attempt to the finest detail, ensuring the success of the ride and ultimately inspiring hope by granting magical dreams to 30 children between the ages of three and 18. It was truly humbling to see the support from corporates, individuals and the public at large."
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