GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Neels Terblanche is busy with a vigorous training programme and preparation for his extreme solo journey around Africa in a pedal boat, starting in December from Mossel Bay.
He aims to be the first person to circumnavigate Africa in a specially designed human-powered pedal boat.
M5M foundation
Oudtshoorn-based Terblanche will be raising funds for children worldwide suffering from malnutrition, supporting the global M5M Foundation.
Terblanche has registered his trip with the Guinness World Records.
The boat is called Vaquita II and was designed by Dudley Dix, a well-known yacht designer and architect from South Africa now residing in the United States, and built by Tertius du Plessis, based in Rheenendal, Knysna.
Cycling tour
In September last year, Terblanche and hand cyclist Vusi Marenene completed a cycling tour from Mossel Bay to Hermanus to raise awareness of Terblanche's coming circumnavigation of Africa and to raise awareness of paracycling.
Marenene of Oudtshoorn was a professional cyclist before an injury in a motor accident in 2022 rendered him a wheelchair user. His passion for cycling remained and he quickly took to hand cycling.
Pledge funds
To find out how to pledge funds to help Terblanche assist malnourished children, see https://sea-battical.co.za/.
Raffle
A raffle is being held to raise funds too. Tickets cost R150 and you stand a chance of winning a getaway worth R12 000. Contact Inge de Villiers (076 827 1245) to find out more about the raffle.
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