Star (South Africa) (10.22.03) - Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Three German athletes hoping to raise HIV/AIDS awareness by
running and cycling from Cape Town to Johannesburg finished
their journey yesterday at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in
Soweto. Joachim Franz, Dr. Michael Str�hmann, and Daniel Dost
were accompanied by an 18-member team comprising doctors and
technical supporters. The absence of top government officials
who had been expected to officially welcome the trio did not
seem to bother them. They were joined by at least 45 South
African athletes from the Masibambanane Community Project, an
HIV/AIDS project based in Cape Town, to form the South Africa
Run & Bike for Help. The Germans, who were led by Franz,
visited schools, community centers and public venues on their
trek, which began Oct. 7. "The money that I will raise through
this project, which is expected to be up to R1.5 million
(US$215,000), will all be donated to HIV/AIDS in South Africa
in April next year," Franz said.