Learners from Aitsa MTB Initiative set to take on Fedhealth MTB Challenge
The learners from the Aitsa After Care Centreare eagerly counting down the days to the 4th annual Fedhealth Kids MTB Events that will take place at Boschendal Farm Estate (The Retreat) on Saturday, 15 September 2018 as part of the 2018 Fedhealth MTB Challenge.
The Aitsa After Care Centreopened its doors in 2014 with the dream and vision of improving the quality of the lives of school children living in the Dwarsrivier Valley and the Kylemore area by providing them with a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment in the afternoons after school.
“Boschendal Farm Estate proudly supports the Aitsa After Care Centre,” says Bianca Grobbelaar, Marketing Manager: Boschendal Farm Estate. “A number of our farm workers’ children belong to the centre. Since the Centre’s inception we’ve been supplying fresh produce from our Werf Food Garden. The relationship has gone from strength to strength. I am also involved with Aitsa on a personal level as I teach the children cycling skills on a pump track every Friday afternoon.”
“In 2017 we, Boschendal Farm Estate together with Stillwater Sports, offered the Aitsa After Care Centre’s MTB Initiative fifteen complimentary entries into the Fedhealth Kids MTB Events,” continues Grobbelaar. “This year we will do the same. I will be there to offer support on the Saturday, while on Sunday I will also saddle my steel horse to take on the race. You cannot miss out on these trails. The routes consist of well-maintained single track, mountain side jeep track and farm roads that will literally take your breath away.”
According to Marietjie Steyn, Aitsa After Care Centre Founder and Director, the Centre currently looks after 180 children between the ages 5 to 10. “Our intake is 35 Grade R children every year and every year we extend to a senior Grade. By 2019 we would have grown to 215 children from Grade R to Grade 5. The 2017 Fedhealth Kids MTB Events was our children’s first real MTB event. It had a great impact on our MTB Initiative. Not only did they walk away with arms full of goodies, but they also made their families really proud and had a lot of fun. School attendance and after care attendance has increased because full attendance is required in order to be part of the MTB Club.”
“We are thankful to Boschendal Farm Estate for their unwavering support,” continues Steyn. “Not only does the Farm Estate provide us with fresh vegetables (free of charge) for our lunch program, they’ve also granted us the use of the Olive Press venue (free of charge) for the second year in a row. This means that we can host our annual Pledge Fundraising Function at a beautiful venue without having to raise ticket prices. Bianca has also been instrumental in establishing and maintaining the Aitsa MTB Initiative. Words cannot explain how thankful we are for the support. Our children are extremely excited to take on the Fedhealth Kids MTB Events in September.”
For further information or to support the Aitsa After Care Centre visit www.aitsa.org or email info@aitsa.org