Tienie Maree will be riding The Munga to raise money for the SPCA.
Tienie Maree, of Brackenfell, is preparing to ride a 1100km mountain-bike endurance race to raise money for the SPCA.
Mr Maree will be aiming to complete The Munga, from Bloemfontein to Wellington, in under 120 hours. The race starts on November 30.
Riding under the slogan, “Munga4Mutts”, he hopes to raise R25 000.
“Without my own dog, my life would be that much more uninteresting and lonelier. He is always happy to see me when I get back from my long training rides, and I am similarly happy to take him for his walkies – no matter how tired I am,” he said.
“But the nerves are really setting in now. I just hope all my training – 7 500km over 320 hours – will pay off!”
He can choose to stop and rest at the five race villages along the route; however, the clock does not stop for riders as rest time is included in the countdown.
The Munga race director, Alex Harris, writes on the race’s website: “At the Munga, we celebrate what it is to be human. We know the fight. We know what it means to grovel and grind and crawl in desperation to the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Cape of Good Hope SPCA fund-raising manager Marisol Gutierrez said: "We admire Tienie's resolve and appreciate his massive effort for us.
"Animals fulfil such an integral role in our lives, and it is hugely rewarding to see just how far a dog lover is prepared to go to show his support for the animals at the SPCA. We urge all animal lovers to support Tienie's ride – it's a tough one!"