Two local first responders are swapping sirens and hoses for muddy trails in October's gruelling Wines2Whales mountain bike challenge, and they're doing it for the little fighters at St Joseph's Intermediate Paediatric Care, Cape town Etc reports.
Regan Bagley, a former law-enforcement officer, and Jermaine Carelse, an ex-firefighter, will ride the 3-day, 230km Epic Series event through vineyards and mountains from 31 October to 2 November. They hope to raise both funds and awareness for St Joseph's, which marks its 90th anniversary next year.
Located in Montana, Cape Town, St Joseph's is a 175-bed non-profit children's hospital that offers free transitional care for youngsters with chronic and life-threatening conditions, everything from cerebral palsy and neurological disorders to cancer. Referred by regional hospitals, these children often spend weeks or months recovering under the care of a multidisciplinary team before returning home.
Bagley says meeting the hospital staff and patients lit a fire in him. 'I've risked my life on the streets, but nothing compares to watching those nurses wipe tears and keep these kids smiling,' he said . 'They're the real heroes.'
Wines2Whales demands over 4 500 m of climbing across three days, and both riders admit it's far beyond their comfort zones. To prepare, they've mapped out a rigorous schedule of off-road races, starting with the GravDuro 83 km challenge in Elgin on June 1, which features six timed stages.