2500KM by tractor for Charity

Start date: 2nd May 2021 end 15^th May 2021

On “Track – Tor” for charity

Pediatric care Africa is launching its very first “On Track–Tor” 2500km tractor and trailer charity ride through 5 provinces.

Due to the dramatic increase in demand for our services as a result of the many people in Mpumalanga and the rest of South Africa that has lost their jobs due to Covid 19 lockdowns and the deteriorating economy in general, we receive many more calls for medical assistance and baby food. Our donation income has shrunk markedly since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, whilst the demand for our services sky rocketed.

Our traditional methods of fundraising such as Golf days, gala dinners with auctions etc are no longer allowed under lockdown regulations, forcing us to rethink and restructure our fundraising methodology.

Pediatric care Africa does not receive any financial assistance or grants from the South African Government and we have to fully generate our own income and funds.

We have an annual 7036km charity motorbike ride around South Africa every February to collect funds for children’s medical treatment, but that generates only a fraction of the funds required by us, to ensure we can help the defenceless children we promised to help.

The promise to help children that are sick, hungry and defenceless was made by Dr Andre Hattingh almost 30 years ago, during a period he spend as volunteer Doctor in Rwanda during the Genocide, and he is absolutely resolute to keep that promise to help our children, even if it means himself riding on a tractor for 2500km to be able to do so. Our children need help and it may be your child or your neighbour’s child in desperate need next.

We got a very welcome and generous sponsor from John Deere South Africa and MASCOR in Rockies Drift White River, who sponsored us with a brand new 6095B John Deere tractor, enabling us ride through 5 provinces for an estimated distance of 2500km km on a John Deere tractor with trailer as part of our first on “Track–Tor” charity campaign.

We start at White river square in White river on Sunday 2^nd May 2021 at 09h00 and end at White river square in White river on Saturday the 15^th May at about 13h00.

The purpose of this ride is threefold:

1. To create awareness and collect funds for children in South Africa that requires medical treatment and baby food. We facilitated over 320 children last year to see a private medical Doctor or Specialist at an average cost of R1400-00 per visit for consultation, medicine and lab tests to us. We furthermore arrange surgeries for children, respond to disasters such as Cyclone Idai, Cyclone Eloise in Limpopo, the fires in the free state in Hertzogville and surrounding areas and the Covid 19 Pandemic, which we view as a natural disaster, and we supply Baby food to babies whose parents have lost their jobs due to covid, Parents who are poor or to babies who live in care centres. We have hand delivered 133 tons of food parcels to persons in food distress during the recent lockdowns.

2. To create awareness of the 1014 children being killed in SA every year, 1184 children who are subjected to attempted murder every year, 24387 sexual offences was committed against children last year, 7815 children was assaulted with intend to do grievous bodily harm and 10829 cases of common assault was reported against children last year. 2019/2020 SAP statistics

3. To draw International attention to farm murders, as farm murders in South Africa is a major problem that affects all of us and that must absolutely be stopped. Children of farmers are often very traumatized by these events. (We support TJ Marais and the 911 riders on their quest to reduce farm murders in South Africa)

We need to raise at least R250 000-00 to be able to let the children that requires urgent medical care receive the medical and surgical treatment they so desperately need and deserve.

We can not do this alone, and we ask your help to enable to help the children and people that rely on us for help.

How can you get involved: The children in our Communities need your help and plead for your assistance?

• Sponsor our Tractor rider Dr Andre Hattingh per kilometre he travels by tractor.
• Make a once of or a monthly donation to help us to help defenceless children.
• We call on all Farmer unions and organizations along our tractor route to support our efforts. We also welcome donations in the form of livestock such as sheep or cattle to us, that we can sell off.
• Donate baby food (All types).
• Donate baby milk (all types) as many mothers are not able to breastfeed their children due to medical reasons.
• Donate diesel for this “On Trac-tor” charity tractor ride.
• Become a volunteer with Pediatric care Africa.
• Hospitals and Doctors can assist us with pro bona treatment or surgery for children, as part of their CSR programs and initiatives.

Our intended route:

 2^nd May 2021: White River/Nelspruit to Burgersfort via Sabie and Lydenburg

3^rd May 2021: Burgersfort to Mokopane (Potgietersrus)

4^th May 2021: Potgietersrus (Mokopane) to Thabazimbi

5^th May 2021: Thabazimbi to Koster

6^th May 2021: Koster to Wolmaransstad

7^th May 2021: Wolmaransstad to Boshof

8^th May 2021: Boshof (Stay over x 2 nights)

9^th May 2021: Boshof to Winburg

10^th May 2021: Winburg to Clarens

11^th May 2021: Clarens to Colenso

12^th May 2021: Colenso to Kingsley via Dundee

13^th May 2021: Kingsley to Piet Retief

14^th May 2021: Piet Retief to Badplaas

15^th May 2020: Badplaas to White river via R33 & R38

We and the children we assist need the help of every single person reading this today, as this is a Community and Country wide problem and we as a community must stand together as one.

Please visit www.pediatriccareafrica.org for full information or please phone our office at 076 229 5663