Riding with Arrie Rautenbach, Stransky's Lumohawk Foundation team and former CEO of ABSA, Stransky leaves Durban on Saturday, 22 November to cycle across the country and through Namibia to Swakopmund for the 14-day 2 500km Hope Ride From Sea to See fundraising journey, says the foundation.

The Hope Ride from Sea to See Ride passes through South African towns like Mooiriver, Harrismith, Ficksburg, Kimberley and Upington, among others, with the last 400km, known as the "Desert Dash", between Windhoek and Swakopmund taking place in the heat over Friday, 5 and Saturday, 6 December, the ride's final but massive stage, adds the foundation.

"Madiba always spoke of the importance of education in our Rainbow Nation, and we're taking on this immensely tough challenge at the peak of the Southern African summer to help make education possible for more of  South Africa's children," says Stransky. "We're appealing to corporates and private donors to sponsor our work as we improve the lives of the children of low-income employees and help families who don't have an income give their children the gift of sight."

With this route never having been cycled as an organised event, the ride passes through some of South Africa's most iconic towns and landscapes, intent on raising funds via sponsorships to continue the work of the Foundation's mobile eye clinics. The LumoHawk team visits the country's underfunded schools, screening and testing children's eyes and providing them with prescription spectacles of their choice where needed, says the foundation.

Where more serious intervention is required, appointments are arranged with ophthalmic specialists who give of their time and resources to help these young learners, adds the foundation.

The issue of children having poor eyesight is surprisingly common. Eye and sight development can be adversely affected by poor nutrition, learning to read in poor light and under-development due to parents' lack of awareness about early childhood support to stimulate vision development. In some areas, as many as 15% of South Africa's children have sight problems that cause them to struggle at school — not because they are unable to learn or can't play sport, but because they simply can't see well enough to learn or to participate, says the foundation.

"Many of the children we test are unaware that they even have a problem, and few people in disadvantaged areas can afford the eyecare they need, whether it's medication or spectacles that can help them see. The LumoHawk Foundation takes care of these needs, providing their services and materials at no cost to the communities they serve," says Stransky.

Each child's needs and circumstances are considered. Those that need spectacles can choose their frames, giving them the power of choice and the dignity of wearing a life-changing device that they like and feel good in, concludes the foundation.

Sponsors wanting to support The Lumohawk Foundation and the Hope Ride from Sea to See can donate on the Foundation’s website or email [email protected].

For more information, visit www.lumohawk.co.za.You can also follow the Lumohawk Foundation on Facebook.

*Image courtesy of contributor