Quads 4 Quads

Former Springbok flanker Andre Venter now heavily involved with the orginisation QuadPara Association of South Africa (Qasa) recenly joined up with the National Director Ari Seirlis and together with 400 bikers travelled thousands of kilometres in a grulling four day Quads 4 Quads off road journey from Carnival City in Johannesburg to the KZN coastal resort of Ballito on the North Coast.

Now in its sixth year the event has taken on a new dimension and with Andre Venter taking part has added a lot more enthusiasm for quadriplegics to participate. Six paraplegics took up the challengre this year and with the former Bok and Seirlis raised an incredible R1.5 million.

Seirlis himself a quadriplegic and a enthusiastic campaigner for the disabled rode a bike especially designed and adapted quad bike and completed the journey with Venter who became a paraplegic after being struck down by a rare virus known as tranverse myelitis, which breaks down the myelin sheath in the spinal cord.

He was joined by his good friend former Springbok loose forward and former Captain of the Sharks Wahl Bartmann explaining to the media that although it had been a pretty tough trip it had also been a lot of fun. Overall the journey had also been very satisfying especially after making such good friends while raising the funds on route for which we must thank the wonderful people we met for their amazing generosity on the road.

"We want to really create more awareness about paraplegics and quadriplegics and show the world that everyone can be involved in such worthwhile initiatives and make the difference" he explained.

Needless to say, as always, the Elan SA Rugby Legends were happy to have been at the finish of the ride and support Andre and Ari's great achievement-long may this wonderful project continue.