Resolution Health and Zurreal Race the Rhino- a tribute to poached rhino and endangered Renosterveld

The 2013 Resolution Health and Zurreal Race the Rhino mountain bike race will take place in memory of the 668 rhinos that were poached in South Africa during 2012. The race, which is in its second year, is aimed at raising funds for the prevention of rhino poaching as well as the protection of the highly endangered, and exquisitely beautiful Renosterveld region in the Western Cape.

Due to take place on Saturday, 21 September 2013, in the Magaliesburg / Hartbeespoort area, the Race the Rhino provides young and novice riders with gorgeous scenery and an exhilarating route that encourages participation by the whole family.

“Following the success of the Ride the Rhino event in 2011, the cycling community strongly encouraged the Renosterveld Trust and its main sponsors, Resolution Health Medical Scheme (Resolution Health) and Zurreal, to consider a Gauteng-based race for those enthusiasts unable to travel to the Western Cape to participate in Ride the Rhino,” says Heidi Eloff, spokesperson for the Trust. “Requests were streaming in and, in response, a second race, the Race the Rhino, was officially launched last year, making it possible for more environmental and cycling enthusiasts around the northern parts of South Africa to support this worthy cause.”

This year’s races have attracted marked interest from the cycling community as well as several celebrities who will be participating and supporting the events. The Race the Rhino event will see celebrity speedster Gugu Zulu, a racing driver and television presenter, and Letshego Mosoue, a well-known adventure enthusiast, take to their bikes and show their metal.

On the day of the race, each participant in this year’s Race the Rhino and Ride the Rhino events will be provided with a plastic rhino horn with a unique barcode linked to one of the rhinos poached during 2012. Riders are encouraged to attach these horns and unique “horn tags” to their bike or person for the duration of the race and ride in memory of their allocated rhino.

Resolution Health and Zurreal became the main sponsors of the Ride the Rhino race in 2012, and subsequently extended this involvement to the Race the Rhino this year. “The events serve as a perfect fit to the Scheme and Zurreal’s Embrace Life strategies which encompass preserving the Environment, promoting Education and encouraging participation in meaningful and healthy Entertainment.,” says Resolution Health and Zurreal brand representative, national rugby captain Jean de Villiers.

The Scheme and Zurreal have engaged in several corporate social investment initiatives and produced media awareness around various environmental projects to the value of in excess of R10 million over the past two years alone. This substantial contribution includes projects involving rhino conservation, community upliftment and education around national recycling initiatives.

“We believe that by encouraging South Africans to get out into their environment and experience what our beautiful country has to offer, promoting social conscience through public involvement and educating communities about how they can make a difference, we can promote a healthier South Africa in which our wildlife and natural resources receive the attention and care that they so richly deserve,” de Villiers concludes.

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