{"id":22195,"date":"2012-09-26T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-26T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/olympians-back-wwf39s-cycling-campaign-r300\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T12:36:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T12:36:43","slug":"olympians-back-wwf39s-cycling-campaign-r300","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/olympians-back-wwf39s-cycling-campaign-r300\/","title":{"rendered":"Olympians back WWF’s cycling campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

Olympic athletes Daryl Impey and Katie Roberts have endorsed WWF-South Africa\u2019s Ride for Nature<\/em> campaign which seeks to give nature-loving cyclists the opportunity to combine their twin passions by raising funds for conservation through cycling.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the dire state of the environment and all the challenges facing conservation in South Africa, it is vital that we all do our bit to make a difference,\u201d says Impey, who participated in the 250km road cycling event at the 2012 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is such a fantastic initiative. As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, I really appreciate the beauty of our country and want to play my part in protecting what we have,\u201d says Roberts who participated in the Women\u2019s Triathlon event at the Games.<\/p>\n

As official Ride for Nature<\/em> ambassadors, Impey and Roberts will help to raise awareness of the initiative. They will also help to raise funds for conservation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ride for Nature<\/em> campaign links conservation and cycling which makes sense given that cycling is a sport with low environmental impact as well as a viable form of green transport,\u201d says Impey.<\/p>\n

The Panda Peloton as it is known, first appeared at the 2012 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour where over 160 cyclists donned WWF\u2019s trademark black and white cycling jerseys. The Ride for Nature campaign seeks to build on that initial success with the next event being the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge which takes place in Johannesburg on 18 November. Entries for the Cycle Challenge close on 30 September.<\/p>\n

In addition to the obvious incentive of making a contribution to conservation, the cyclist who raises the most money ahead of the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge will win the once in a lifetime experience of tracking rhino with WWF rhino experts in Kwa-Zulu Natal. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Momentum 94.7 is just the start. The Panda Peloton will also be out in force at the 2013 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour. Cyclists wanting more info can check out WWF\u2019s webite – wwf.org.za,\u201d concludes Roberts.<\/p>\n