Gerda du Toit – ‘riding for a limb’ and so much more
On Saturday 18th June, I had the opportunity to meet Gerda du Toit, a beautiful and incredibly courageous woman, riding a motorcycle across South Africa on a 4,000 kilometre adventure.
The most extraordinary thing about her adventure? The fact that she is a double amputee and is raising awareness and funds for ‘Riding for a Limb’, a project to support cancer children living without limbs. Gerda is on a mission to help make kids without limbs mobile again, a transition that she has gone through herself, and to make a life-changing difference.
Riding for a Limb is a project of the Kirsty Watts Foundation, a registered NPO which has helped children country-wide for the past six years so far, helping to fit more than 50 children with prosthetic limbs. These limbs usually cost around R160,000 per pair, but the Foundation has managed to bring the average cost down to R20,000, including rehabilitation and consultations, making it accessible and a more realistic option for the children.
Riding for a Limb is a personal mission for the amazing Gerda du Toit. At the age of nine, she was diagnosed with Diabetes, and after having serious problems with her legs for several years as a result of the disease, she lost both limbs two years ago, amputated just below the knee. It was, of course, a most terrifying period of her life and, as a mother of two boys, she feared her life was over but fought desperately to remain positive and continue her life in the best way she could. In addition to this major upheaval, one of her young sons underwent open-heart surgery, resulting in an incredibly difficult period emotionally and financially.
What happened next changed Gerda’s life and put her on a path that she never imagined possible. She met a man named Charl Beukes from Centauri Medical, a wonderful person who dedicates his time coaching and assisting children and adults without limbs.
In an effort to find a positive approach to her struggle, Gerda joined forces with Charl and decided to set out on a mission to assist children who have lost limbs through Cancer.
It is undoubtedly seen as more than enough for an amputee to move from a wheelchair to prosthetic limbs but Gerda went further than that and went from her wheelchair to a motorcycle, with her prosthetic limbs. This was a huge undertaking for her, having only ridden a motorcycle prior to losing her legs, and only on a track… riding on highways and byways all over the country was indeed going to be a challenge, but one which she approached with positivity and determination.
Riding a Cayenne-sponsored Honda Integra from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back again via the Garden Route and Transkei, Gerda embarked on this adventure on 6th June 2016. She covers approximately 400 kilometres every day and is escorted into all major towns and cities by the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA). She shares how absolutely overwhelming it has all been so far, from the wonderful people she has met to the incredible support received. She also shares how vitally important it is for her to ensure that she is healthy enough to ride and monitors her sugar levels up to 8 times a day. A neck brace, sponsored by Leatt, has been provided for her protection on the journey and Eazi Access Rental has also already donated over R10,000 to the cause.
The aim of this formidable adventure is to raise two million rand and give one hundred children a new start in life. And as if this wasn’t enough, Gerda is also determined to set a new Guinness World Record, setting the bar for others who might draw inspiration from her selfless journey.
This incredible adventure will soon be coming to an end but there is still time for you to help where you can, by sponsoring Gerda for each and every kilometre of the journey. If you would like to get involved, you can contact Belinda on 083 290 0000, Charl on 084 442 8894 or Gerda herself on 071 674 6846. Your donation will be accounted for by the trustees of the Kirsty Watts Foundation and you will be invoiced after the ride and issued with a section 18a certificate.
You can also make contact and find out further details via the Kirsty Watts Foundation Facebook page or the Riding for a Limb Facebook page. On both of these platforms, you can also follow Gerda’s journey so far through wonderful photographs and posts. And if you discover that Gerda and her team are passing through a town or city near you, I encourage you to make a point to meet them, you will be glad you did.
Be a part of Gerda’s adventure, donate today and know that you are helping to give our precious children the new start in life that they deserve.