Cape Argus executive editor Gasant Abarder’s “Ride Against Rape” initiative is gaining momentum with less than a week to go to the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour.
The 36th cycle tour will take place on Sunday and Abarder will be among those riding for a cause.
The Ride Against Rape initiative, launched last week, aims to raise funds for Rape Crisis and to generate awareness around rape. The Cape Argus has donated R109 000 – R1 000 for every kilometre of the tour.
Flight Centre has donated R2 000. Bianca Mazur of Flight Centre’s human resources department, said: “It’s part of our company philosophy to give back to our community.”
Abarder also commended an Independent Newspapers staff member, Tino Stefano, who donated R1 000.
There have also been a lot of smaller donations, by anonymous donors, according to Abarder. “And to them we say thank you, thank you, thank you.”
So far, R120 000 has been donated to the campaign.
Last week, Social Development MEC Albert Fritz also endorsed the campaign when his department gave R1.3 million to Rape Crisis.
Rape Crisis offers support to rape victims, encourages survivors to report rape and are involved in advocacy programmes to create awareness about rape.
l Send donation pledges to lyntina.aimes@inl.co.za so the Cape Argus can acknowledge your donation.
The banking details are: Independent Newspapers, Standard Bank, account number 070401020, branch Cape Town, branch code 051001, reference: “Ride Against Rape.”
Follow the campaign on the Cape Argus Twitter handle @TheCapeArgus with the hashtag #RideAgainstRape and on the Cape Argus’s Facebook page.
Rape Crisis director Kathleen Dey said: “The support we’ve received from the Ride Against Rape campaign has been absolutely extraordinary. And Gasant is the best champion we could have asked for, especially now when we need it most.”
Staff Reporter