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Naledi Sande and Tawanda Matanhire Lifestyle Reporters
Motorbikes sport has had a lot of followership outside our borders and locals are fast embracing the bikers clubs which are mushrooming in different parts of the country. Yes, it is a good thing that civilization has brought light to Africa as many people do enjoy the vast technological advancements and in this case the motor industry. Many people often use cars ,buses and even motor bikes for transport but riding for fun has gripped the local scence.

Recently local bikers clubs held a fun run dubbed “Riding for Good” for Matthew Rusike Children`s home in Epworth as a way of showing courtesy and care for the disadvantaged young people in society.

Matthew Rusike Children’s Home run was organised for all bikers from any club. Spokesperson for the bikers’ run Victor Gapare said that the idea was to have a fun ride and at the same time be doing good in the community.

“A total of 27 bikers rode to the home in Epworth with several cars with supporters in tow.and the idea was to have fun while we also serve the community,” Gapare said. In Harare there are at least four biker clubs, namely Survivors, Ulysses, Scorpions and Biker Boyz.

There are also a lot of riders who are not affiliated to any club but just ride freely and these riders are normally known as the Free Riders. These clubs normally organize weekend runs (a ride by a group of motor bikers is called a run).

For Survivors and Ulysses the Sunday runs normally start at 9.30am and end around 1pm. Typical destinations include Marondera, Chinhoyi, Juru, Lions Head Dam on Shamva Road, Mazowe, Bindura, Lake Chivero, Concession and many others.

Normally, every three months there is a rally which starts on a Friday and end on a Sunday. The Gold Run is normally held in February and is to Mazvikadei Dam. The Nyami Nyami Rally takes us to Kariba and is normally held in May.

The Eastern Highlands Rally takes us to Vumba and Nyanga and is held in July. The oldest rally is the Trout Rally which has been held continuously for the past 44 years with the first rally held in 1972.

This year will be the 45th Trout Rally. In their last few years the Trout Rally was held at Lake Mutirikwi. The runs which were done for Matthew Rusike Children`s home came as a result of the yearly commitments the bikers hold for charity.

Around Christmas, there is the Toy Run to a Children’s home. There is also a run to an Old People’s home. Gapare said that the bikers decided that every three months they will do a charity run for any worthy cause identified.

“As bikers we are committed to a charity run after every three months for any worthy cause that we may identify. The charity runs are for all bikers regardless of club,” he said. Two truckloads of clothing and food were collected as a result of the fun run and Gapare said that people need to come together as groups so that they are able to cover more ground in terms of helping the needy.

“The important thing to remember is that as individuals, we can’t raise enough most of the time but if we come together as a group we can make a difference,” Gapare said. “We can all donate what we can afford regardless of quantity or amount and when this is pooled, it can be significant as our run to Matthew Rusike proved,” he added.