Jonathan Anderson, Jono, as he was more affectionately known by those close to him, was diagnosed with dementia some years ago. After a long period of illness he passed away last year. What made Jono special was his insatiable hunger for adventure which took him on a number of journeys including sailing the Cape to Rio yacht race, paddling the Orange River and, probably most adventurous, rode his bicycle from Salisbury (Harare) to Cape Town – aged seventeen at the time!
Jonathan left behind his two sons, Lyle (35) and Struan (36) and four young grandchildren. The two brothers were ill-prepared at the rapid deterioration and were caught off-guard by their father’s sudden death. Distraught and heartbroken for not understanding what was happening, they wanted to honour their father’s legacy and raise awareness for dementia whilst also raising funds to train much needed carers in rural communities – a feel good project with a purpose.
Lyle and Struan could not think of a better way than to cycle the legendary route, as their father once did, from the Beit Bridge border to Cape Town – the Border2Beach Psycle Tour was born! What better way to raise awareness and improve dementia literacy than a two week cycle race with four best friends, in conjunction with daily posts on social media, the sharing of helpful information, and numerous public interactions to spread the word as the race progresses on its way to Cape Town!
“The motivation behind this race is that it is personal; it tells a story; a story we can relate to in our own way as we journey with our Livewell families. We believe the funds they raise will pay for much needed training of carers in rural communities. This is an opportunity to tangibly bring hope and make a difference in many families’ lives and we could not be more thrilled to announce that Livewell Villages has come on board as the title sponsor for the Border2Beach ride says Ivan Oosthuizen, CEO of Livewell Villages. “Once a person is diagnosed with dementia, they, with the help of their families, also go on their own personal journey; and in similar fashion, this cycle tour represents something about such a journey”.
“Thanks to Livewell’s generous contribution to the ride and assistance with all the logistics, every cent raised through our fundraising efforts will go towards the training of caregivers in association with Alzheimer’s South Africa. We appreciate and thank Livewell Villages for making our dream a reality to honour our dad and for helping us to spread this important message of hope” says Lyle Anderson.
Although Dementia is a progressive degenerative disease, early detection affords a family time to adequately prepare, while their loved one is still able to be a part of the process and conversation. Having clarity on what your loved one’s wishes are, goes a long way in reducing guilt when having to make tough decisions about their wellbeing.
Please join Lyle and Struan on this exceptional journey and become part of the Border2Beach Psycle Tour and campaign. We would like to encourage you to aid them in their efforts to raise the funds required to train a number of carers. You can donate directly online via the BackaBuddy page: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/border2beach-psycle
Please make sure to follow this journey on social media (Facebook | Instagram). We wish our cyclists the best of luck in their preparations!