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Rotary Club changing lives

For over a decade a fundraising project of the Rotary Club Windhoek (RCW) has helped bring cheer to the lives of thousands of less fortunate people, all over Namibia. It has also helped to mobilise hundreds of thousands of Namibian dollars of support for many charitable and community based organisations around the country.
RCW’s The Namibian Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic 2013 is not only for competitive cyclists. It is a community service project with a focus on fun. The event attracts cyclists, young and old, the fit and the not-so-fit. To this end the event has different distance categories and ones for individuals, tandems or couples and for teams too. Every entrant receives a bag full of goodies and of course the top cyclists in each category are accorded special recognition in the form of prizes and medals.
A race for the more adventurous mountain bikers is staged annually on the Saturday of the weekend on which the cycle classic takes place.
Then there is the Kiddies Classic, which caters for all ages including from as young as three. This year the children’s cycling event also takes place on Saturday 12 October. It has become a major family fun attraction with entertainment provided for the youngsters and food and beverages on sale, for mom and dad and the grandparents too.
The following day, Sunday 13 October, the focus shifts to the main road race. The prize giving also takes place that day, which includes a lucky draw for a wide variety of prizes. However, winners have to be present at the prize giving to claim their prize. At the prize giving entertainment for the kids is provided for free and refreshments are on sale, with proceeds going to support the work of RCW.
A further attraction for cyclist and for the general public is an exposition that takes over two days at the event venue in Olympia, the SKW football field. For exhibitors provides another opportunity to market goods and services to a broader audience.
Support provided by The Namibian, Pick ‘n Pay and others, in turn makes The Namibian Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic a major fundraiser for Rotary. It is important to take note of the fact that it has a knock-on effect, in a positive sense, as it encourages Rotary clubs in Europe to support local projects.
The Namibian and retail chain Pick ‘n Pay are the main sponsors of the annual fundraiser. Many other firms, individuals and organisations lend their support in other ways too, including in cash and in kind. Other sponsors include the lead manufacturer of soft drinks in Namibia, a radio station, a printing company, bicycle dealers and a camping equipment supplier, among others.
Funds generated from this cycle race held annually, which is always over the second weekend in October, has and continues to provide funding support to many organizations, institutions and charities. This includes those that help the aged, take care of children of all ages, protect the vulnerable, bring comfort to those that find themselves in distressed situations and promote literacy.

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