Vodacom Foundation donation keeps Velokhaya's BMX wheels turning

A R100 000 donation by the Vodacom Foundation has boosted BMX training and racing at the Velokhaya BMX Oval in Khayelitsha near Cape Town.

Cape Town, South Africa, November 18, 2009.

"The funds donated by the Vodacom Foundation were used to purchase equipment for the more than 100 young BMX cyclists training and competing at the Velokhaya BMX Oval. Prior to the donation, children had to stop riding to exchange and share kit (racing pants and shirts) and protection gear (gloves, helmets and knee guards), which hampered their training efforts," explains Velokhaya and Life Cycling Academy CEO, Glyn Broomberg.

Mthobi Tyamzashe, Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, commented: "It was a pleasure for the Vodacom Foundation to enable the children from Khayelitsha to participate in the programmes of the Velokhaya BMX Oval. We trust that the equipment purchased will enable the over 100 beneficiaries to realize their dreams in their chosen sport."

The Velokhaya BMX Oval has, since it opened a year ago in November 2008, become a popular - and important - recreational facility for the children of Khayelitsha. "It's a place where they can have fun and learn new skills in a secure, safe environment," explains Velokhaya's Amos Ziqubu.

"It's also been proven that children who participate in sport learn important life skills, such as how to win and lose and how to manage competition. Sport teaches them about teamwork, fair play, respect for themselves and others, and adherence to rules and has even been shown to improve school attendance and a desire to succeed academically."

The Vodacom Foundation's donation was made possible through the intervention of Johannesburg-based cyclist and business executive, Mthunzi Mdwaba, who introduced the Vodacom Foundation to Velokhaya.