Cycling enthusiasts can get on their bikes for a worthy cause this year. The South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind (SAGDA) is inviting riders to join its team for the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday 6 March 2016.

A donation of R2 500 covers the race entry fee, a branded cycle shirt, post event hospitality and the chance to win prizes.

But the real honour is helping an organisation that does right by helping often under-served South African constituencies.

“The donations will be used to train and breed guide dogs,” says SAGDA’s Avril Salo. “Actually we don’t only do guide-dogs. We also do service-dogs for the physically disabled and autism-support-dogs.

“It costs South African Guide-Dogs Association R80 000 in training and preparation per dog. The cost, however, to someone who applies for the dog is R5. That person would go into a contract with our organisation to house and care for the dog, and contact us if there’s a need for further training.

“We’d love to service all of the demand for these dogs. But we actually cannot keep up with the demand – we have people who’ve been on the waiting list for two years.”

Anyone interested in signing up for SAGDA’s team can contact Avril Salo on 021-674-7395 or AvrilS@guidedog.org.za