Viljoen off on last leg of epic ride

[caption id="attachment_222441" align="alignright" width="303"] Karel Viljoen has cycled more than 6 000km to raise funds.
Picture: Brian Witbooi[/caption]

Mechanical failures, rest breaks and medical conditions will not stand in the way of adventure seeker Carel Viljoen when he embarks on the journey back to his hometown of Port Alfred today.

Viljoen and his brother Deon kicked off their 6 000km journey in aid of The Child Witness Institute and its foundation on July 3. Viljoen said Deon had fallen ill earlier this week and on the advice of a doctor had cut short his ride, leaving Viljoen to complete the journey alone.

Viljoen, who was in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday afternoon, said he had been approached by his son, a member of the Vryheid branch of the Round Table, and had immediately agreed to take on the charity ride. Speaking from Rowallan Park where he was hosted by a friend, Viljoen said doing cycle tours was something he was passionate about.

“For me it’s an adventure. I have seen so much of this country from a motor car but, in the same breath, I’ve also missed a lot of the natural beauty. “You get to see so much more on a bicycle, so I was eager to take it on,” Viljoen said.

Asked what challenges he had faced on his journey he said there had not been many apart from a few breakdowns along the way.

“No matter what happens, either good or bad, it does not compare to the trauma these kids have to go through.”

The Child Witness Institute, a Port Elizabeth-based non-profit organisation, fights for the rights and dignity of child witnesses. The institute trains stakeholders in the legal system so they know how to work appropriately and sensitively with child witnesses.

Institute CEO Dr Karen Muller, who is based in the Bay, said research conducted by the organisation was aimed at identifying and addressing patterns of abuse, violence and victimisation which leads to these cases.

“It engages youth and community groups, intervening where necessary to educate, inform and help break pervasive cycles of abuse, violence and exploitation. “It also supports government, civil society, and aid agencies with project implementation aimed at developing and strengthening legislation, policies and implementation processes associated with judicial reform for child witnesses,” she said.

The institute also plays a role in judicial reform for child witnesses in a number of other countries.

“Although the institute’s focus has been in Southern Africa it continues to broaden its global reach with the provision of expertise on almost every continent,” Muller added.

The organisation has worked in many countries, including Egypt, Kenya, India, New Zealand and the United States of America. The institute also develops and presents specialised short courses when the need is expressed by government departments and non-profit organisations.

“We aim to become an international centre of excellence which strives to eliminate the abuse of children and change the judicial landscape for child witnesses,” Muller said.

Viljoen left Port Elizabeth yesterday en route to Alexandria, where he spent the night before heading home to Port Alfred. On average, Viljoen travels between 80km and 100km a day.

He expressed his gratitude to the many drivers he had encountered on his way saying “they have been very accommodating, especially truck drivers”. “[Truck drivers] are very aware of their surroundings.

When they saw me on the side of the road, instead of just trying to force their way past, they would wait until it was safe, and then move slightly wider to pass.”

Anyone looking to donate can log onto the cycle tour website at www.cyclecc.co.za and make their contribution.