Liezel van der Westhuizen and Cindy Jacobsz are the first African, South African all female blind and sighted pair to tandem cycle from Manali to Khardung La India, 18 330 feet covering 550km.
COURAGEOUS WOMAN DUO CONQUERS HIMALAYAS ON TANDEM AGAINST ALL ODDS
Not only was it a triumphant African first when media personality Liezel van der Westhuizen successfully piloted blind fellow cyclist Cindy Jacobs on a tandem bicycle over the famous Himalayas from Mandali to Khardung La in India last month, but the pair also had to battle the elements of wind, rain, sleet and sub-zero temperatures whilst being severely challenged by every imaginable technical problem.
They covered the mean distance of 550km in 10 days at altitudes of up to 18 330 feet.
Liezel describes it as that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ event that cyclists around the world dream of. The expedition starts at Manali, which is known as the door to the heaven of the Himalayas, the route takes you cross five passes with a maximum altitude of 5602 meters reached at Khardung La-one of the world’s highest roads.
Both being extremely passionate about philanthropy, the two had decided to use the event to raise funds for two medical charities namely Operation Smile South Africa and OneSight. The former is dedicated to providing free surgery to children and adults born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate, while the latter provides refractive error services and prescription spectacles to people without access to affordable vision care.
“Cycling this distance on some of the highest roads in the world, is a daunting challenge, especially because the roads are non-existent at some places, and you have to be physically and mentally prepared to complete it,”said Van der Westhuizen.
What further sets the event aside, is the fact that it allows for participation of visually impaired and other physically challenged athletes. The event was organized by Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundations with the aim to promote inclusion by enabling Persons with Disability and able bodied people to participate in Adventure Sports together.
They stayed in tents along the way with limited access to water for showers and wore a proudly South African sports wool brand (CORE MERINO) that protected them against all the elements.
Some of the technical problems the women had to endure included Liezel’s ‘camelback’ (water backpack she carries for nutrition) breaking, her left-hand cycling glove being blown away and everything getting wet – all on day one.
On the second day Cindy contracted a bad eye infection, followed by the tandem’s left crank breaking on day 3 which meant they had to walk a far distance before they had access to technical assistance. A crank from a spare bicycle that was fitted to their tandem to aid them with their finish.
On subsequent days Liezel battled a stomach bug, their bicycle brakes stopped working due to the altitude , and on the final day of cycling the screw on Liezel’s seat post that held Cindy’s handlebar to the tandem broke off. They had to walk the final two kilometers to the top of Khardung La on the highest motorable road in the world.
People can still make donations to their fundraising efforts:
- SMS the word “tandem” to 42030 and donate R30
- GIVE AND GAIN DONATION PAGE https://www.givengain.com/a/riding4sightandsmiles_liezel/
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About Operation Smile Operation Smile is a global non-profit, volunteer medical services organisation which provides free reconstructive surgery to children and adults with cleft lips and cleft palates in over 50 countries world-wide.
The success of Operation Smile over the last 27 years is due to the amazing volunteer, diplomatic, corporate and individual support that the organisation receives. Together with their partners they create change, provide hope and give people who would not otherwise have the opportunity and chance to live a normal live.
About OneSight: OneSight is the leading global nonprofit organization bringing access to vision care during our lifetime. We exist to fuel people’s potential by helping them see clearly. We believe in a world where access to vision care is no longer a barrier to human achievement and possibility. Over the last 30 years, OneSight has been able to serve more than 14 million people in 46 countries.
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