94.7 CHOC - The Cows 2010

• By: Mark Sinovich
• Short URL: http://www.backabuddy.co.za/thecows-marksinovich2010

Personal message

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

Back on a bike again, and yes, it will still looks funny.

Some Children have a really tough start in life and CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa) helps them and their Families get through a raw deal by getting them the treatment and support that they need.

The funds raised for CHOC in the 2010 94.7 cycle race are planned for upgrading the Paediatric Oncology wards at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
These wards provide hundreds of children from across South Africa with treatment for cancer and are in desperate need of an upgrade.

Race day was 21 November and I appreciate all the support that you, your companies and friends can give, to make getting this body and an ice-cream bike across the line, count.
(in a moment of weakness I volunteered to support a 60kg, single gear, corporate sponsored ice-cream bike in the race – mad cow moment).

Please help in raising awareness and making a difference by either Sponsoring me with a DONATION
or registering with The Cows in the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge when the entries open in 2011.

I am truly grateful to the below people that so generously sponsored me in this initiative.
Many of them where sponsors in 2007.

As of 29 November 2010, R3 607 367 had been raised by The Cows in the 2010 94.7 initiative for CHOC.
It is encouraging that so many people want to and have made a significant difference to the world that we live in.

CHOC:
If you would like to find out more about CHOC, please follow this link http://www.choc.org.za
Please also consider getting your friends, company/ employer involved in this initiative or starting something like this if you live abroad.

Race notes:
Riding with The Cows in the 2010 94.7 stampede to raise funds for CHOC was a life time experience.
Meeting amazing people in The Cows in the lead up to race day to starting the race with 284 people dressed in cow suits and cow print race gear.
Supporting the ice-cream bike around the course was tough and it took us 6.55 hours to get it and ourselves over the finish line (walked like John Wayne for a few days) but the 8 of us that started with the ‘Yellow Dog software’ ice-cream bike finished together.
The support and encouragement that we got from fellow riders and the crowds was what got us across the line.
Once again I learnt a humbling lesson, having started the initiative to make a difference to other peoples’ lives, it has made such a difference in mine.
I think that the amazing atmosphere and team spirit in The Cows is best captured by the difference in percentage of Cow finishers (+90%) to entries compared to that of the entire field (c55% - 13608 finishers in total).
The courage of people not being beaten and overcoming obstacles in The Cows is inspirational.
I can listen to their personal stories of how they got involved in awe for hours.

Background:
A friend, Paul, and I rode the 94.7 cycle challenge to raise funds for CHOC and their wish-list, for the first time in 2007.
Our objectives were to increase awareness of CHOC, raise funds for the cause and create something sustainable.
It was a brilliant experience and on race day so many spectators and fellow riders cheered us on in our CHOC racing gear.
Sponsors made the real difference in 2007 by generously donating funds and providing many items on the CHOC wish-list at cost.
Arlene and the other people from CHOC where brilliant in helping us.
We raise R24 199 and thought that we had changed the world when we delivered the items on the wish-list to CHOC.
I was working overseas for the 2008 and 2009 races and thought that the CHOC 94.7 fundraising initiative had sadly ceased.

‘The Cows’ CHOC initiative that Arlene and Kerrin started and developed from the 2008 race took the concept to a new level and the effort that is put into the initiative is massive.

I was really proud and inspired to be part of The Cows CHOC 94.7 race in 2010.
The growth of The Cows to 284 riders in 2010 and many more supporters is testament to the people involved. The Cows motto is ‘Love living life’.
They have truly made a difference to so many peoples’ lives. 

Stories of courage and determination, from people in The Cows, CHOC and the children being supported by CHOC, reflects the best of what it is to be human.