They did it...!

Dave and Johann crossed the finish line just after 7 am this morning - over three hours ahead of the 24 hour cut off time. All went well. They are obviously exhausted but chuffed that the challenge has been accomplished. Well done guys! A few special thanks need to be made at this point:

1. To Stuart Sanderson - the team manager - for tracking the guys along the way and providing back up support and regular progress reports.

1. To Pro Bike in PE - for providing Johann with a top range mountain bike.

3. To Jon Lee Augustyne for his support and guidance.

4. To Coetsee - our publicity guru - for creating huge awareness of Kelly and Kelly's Heroes - in numerous newspapers and a live interview on SABC FM last night.

Now we need to up the ante with sponsorhip and donations towards Kelly. Please see details in the post below if you would like to support Kelly's Heroes. Thanks to everyone for their support thus far.

Welcome to the Kelly's Heroes Blog Site

This is a story about a young girl called Kelly, two novice cyclists, Dave and Johann, and the mother of all mountain bike challenges - the 24 hour Transbaviaans Challenge. Read on and make a difference!

1. Meet Kelly:

Kelly Routledge is a 3 year old girl - born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa - who has Van der Kaap's syndrome (cysts on the brain) and a severe hearing impairment which requires a cochlea implant. Whilst Kelly's folks have medical aid they need to pay in an additional amount of R115,000 to cover Kelly's medical treatment. Photo's on this site are of Kelly and are used with the permission of her parents. The cochlea implant and related after care medical attention Kelly is receiving is being done by the University of Pretoria - Cochlea Programme.

2. Meet Dave and Johann - "Kelly's Heroes":

Dave Pattle and Johann Van Der Walt are two PE attorneys who have decided to do something to assist Kelly. They have decided to tackle the daunting Transbaviaans Mountain bike challenge (see below). This is a tall order given that prior to their training for the event (which began in May 2009) neither Dave nor Johann owned a mountain bike! They have decided to make a difference and hope that you will too by sponsoring them on this adventure...

3. What is the Transbaviaans?

The TB is one of the most challenging mountain bike races in the world. Cyclists have to cover 230 km's in 24 hours. The route starts in Willowmore and ends in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. Entrants have to cycle through the famous Baviaans climbing in excess of 1500 metres. The event takes place on the 15th of August 2009. See www.ecobound.co.za for more details about the event.

4. Do you want to make a difference?

Please support Dave and Johann in raising funds for Kelly by sponsoring them. Donations can be paid into the following bank account in the name of The Pretoria Cochlea Programme:

• University of Pretoria Hearing Research


• Acccount number: 01 256 4443


• Branch code: 011-545


• Hatfield branch, Pretoria

Please reference all donations for Kelly as follows: "Kelly Routledge AR337"

Contact details for the Pretoria Cochlea Programme:

Tel: 012 420 3684

Email: ptacoch@up.ac.za

A tax voucher can be arranged on request.

Please contact Nathan Carr on 072 432 3649 (sponsorship manager) if you need any further information.