By ’Mathabana Kotelo
MASERU — Lesotho Sky is set to host a cycling challenge for corporate workers at Maseru Mall tomorrow.
The challenge, dubbed the Maseru Mall Corporate Challenge 2013 is an initiative of Lesotho Sky backed by Maseru Mall, Maluti Mountain Brewery and Total.
It will feature more than 50 corporate teams from various private sector companies as well as some public sector departments and members of the public battling it out on a 2km cycling route vying for the title of the fittest corporate team.
Christian Schmidt, founder of Lesotho Sky, said the event was a team building and networking exercise meant to raise awareness on cycling as a sport and to promote health and fitness among corporate entities and boost company morale.
“The participating corporates will get to leave their desks, get out of the office for an afternoon, and take part in a fun cycling challenge for a good cause”.
Describing how the event will take course Schmidt said, “Each team will have five members who will each take a turn to cycle around the set route in relay style”.
In addition to Maluti Mountain Brewery and Total, teams from Vodacom, Alliance Insurance, Standard Bank, Metropolitan, teams from the media and many others will be taking part in the cycling race.
Schmidt said that the event was also aimed at raising awareness on the need for alternative means of transport in Maseru that is both affordable and carbon neutral.
“The number of vehicles in Maseru is growing rapidly. In a few years time traffic in Maseru is bound to be unbearable, bicycles offer another means of transport that is environmentally friendly”.
Maseru Mall which will host the event has donated 40 bikes to be used in the cycling challenge.
The bicycles used in the race and proceeds of the event will be donated to Lesotho Sky’s Ha Ramoshabe Community Project; a community centre that serves as an after-school activity for five to 15-year-olds in the area where they cycle and have access to a library to promote a reading and sports culture.
Speaking about Maluti Mountain Brewery’s involvement in the challenge, beer brand manager Beatrice Marfleet said that they were excited to have partnered with Lesotho Sky in this project that was not only a fun activity but also served to promote a healthy lifestyle.
“We thought it was a good idea to get corporates involved in a friendly sports rivalry that also encourages healthy living.”
“We are not just a beer making company, we love to take part in sport activities and friendly competitions of this nature”, said Marfleet.
MMB will have nine teams representing them at the cycling event that Marfleet described as eager and all ready to win on the day.
Schmidt said they look forward to an even bigger event next year, with broader and more specific categories in the race.
