Cycle tour changes a life in fight against crime

The tour raises funds for the Mike Thompson Change a Life Trust which are used for the prevention of crime and the rehabilitation of victims of criminal offences.

Photo credit: flickr

According to the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) research programme on Youth Rehabilitation, young people constitute the majority of both victims and perpetrators of crime in the country. As a result of these findings, the beneficiaries of the Mike Thompson Change a Life Trust are typically initiatives that focus on the upliftment or rehabilitation of the youth.

A costly exercise

Graham Wackrill, Chief Executive Officer of Metrofile Holdings Limited, says that fighting crime and helping those who have suffered from crime is a costly exercise. "As a result, it is important that these types of initiatives receive support from other parties in order to effectively address this growing concern. The Change a Life Cycle tour presents a respectable and reliable channel for Metrofile to provide this assistance."

Photo credit: flickr

All the funds raised as a result of this initiative will go to selected beneficiaries who work tirelessly for the upliftment of their local communities, says Wackrill. "The documentary will focus specifically on the progress of the Change a Life beneficiaries as well as the companies who make these initiatives possible through sponsorships."

This year's annual Change a Life Masquerade Tour took place on the Rovos Rail, one of the top 25 luxury trains in the world, which served as living quarters for the participants between the cycling routes. Computershare South Africa matched the R30,000 paid by each of the 65 participants rand for rand. This year's four day, 600km route, offered excellent cycling conditions with good tarred roads and the some of the Western Cape's most beautiful conditions.

"Besides the wonderful experience of completing the challenge with like-minded individuals and taking part in a superbly organised event, it is a privilege to have the opportunity to change the lives of the country's youth," says Wackrill.

This year an additional project was added to the Change a Life portfolio - the well-established Cape Town based Rape Crisis Trust was chosen as it ties into the objectives of the event by offering support to rape victims in the local community. The centre was founded by rape victim Anne Mayne and aims to encourage victims of rape to speak out against the injustice of personal violations as well as provide support to recovering victims.

The several other long-standing Change a Life beneficiaries include:

• The Martin Dreyer Change a Life Academy, launched in 2008, which grooms 10 underprivileged minors to take part in the annual Dusi Canoe Marathon.
  
• The DNA Project that has transformed South Africa's criminal justice system and was involved in the preparation of the final draft of the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Bill, known colloquially as the DNA Bill.
  
• The Change a Life Karate-Do which provides a haven for minors in underprivileged communities and aims to develops confident, mature and responsible students.
  
• The IChoose to Change a Life Club, which instates Stand Against Crime Clubs in local Gauteng primary schools where children are enrolled in diversion and crime prevention programmes.
  
• And lastly, the Nemato Change a Life Club, established in 2005, which provides a platform for the impoverished youth of the Nelson Mandela Township in Port Alfred to receive education, access to sport facilities, nutrition and emotional support.

Wackrill together with Richard Buttle, Executive Director and Guy Kimble, MD of Metrofile Records Management participated in this year's event. "Metrofile is truly invested in this initiative - it is the fourth year we have contributed, the third year that we have participated as cyclists and the second year that we have sponsored the Change a Life documentary, which premiered on 16 October on SuperSport 8," concludes Wackrill.