Phuthu Stay Phut, Don't go!

I have never ever in my life ever taken an immune booster injection or anti-flu thingi majiggi and so it was to my horror when Superjerm brought home a Beriglobin injection for me. Even more terrifying was the big bubble wrapped envelope it came in, complete with its own frikkin ice-pack. Yes, its own frikkin ice-pack! That only happens in futuristic movies man. Hugging my lounge cushion makes the Vit B12 injections almost bearable but now I would have to have this in the hind quarter of my arse whilst standing! No cuzzi the cushion.

Me: “Why the frik do I need this?”

Superjerm: “Its an immune booster, we don’t want to have all that training go down the drain if one of us gets sick”

In my head: Ugggh, the voice of reason. Hang on, usually I am the voice of reason. What is happening here?

Me: “Are you sure I need it?”

Superjerm: “Yes, now just suck it up!” Well he didn’t say that, I just thought it sounded good.

Now B12 injections are about 3ml but Beri-frikking-Globin is 5ml and it’s thicker in consistency so it doesn’t go in as fast, plus, the needle has to go in the whole way to get through the layer of adipose tissue (sound so much better than saying “fat”) to its final destination in the muscle. And you have to stand, not sit, whilst this mother of a needle drops in at the arse end of the world (hee hee, arse end, sorry couldn’t help it).

I nearly fainted. Luckily, (because I am such a bright girl and everything) I saw it coming, everything started going blotchy. Mayday mayday, I’m going down. I dashed to the bed and waited for my eyesight to come back. Superjerm thought he’d hit a nerve or something, poor thing was hovering over me like a doctor in distress. It wasn’t actually that sore, not nearly as sore as a B12 in the leg so who knows why my lights went out.

After hours of packing and organising, I can safely say that I am all packed and ready to go. I wanted to make a special label for my bag just to let the airport officials know how much I appreciate them but on second thoughts I realised it might draw more attention. It was going to look like this:

What I love about MTB stage races and many other sporting events, is that they give back to the community by starting foundations and projects or working through the infrastructure of other organisations to help the less fortunate. So by participating in these events, we actually stimulate a social responsibility to help others and well, it’s just awesome!

The upcoming ABSA Cape Epic which starts on Saturday, has two charities for 2009 – The Big Tree Foundation (really love this one) and the JAG Foundation.

Big Tree was founded by the ABSA Cape Epic and is funded through the race. It’s mission it is to make a lasting positive impact through education projects in the towns that host the Absa Cape Epic and the Cape Odyssey (The running version of the Epic!).

The Big Tree Foundation focuses on supplying: uniforms, stationery, desks and bicycles (to get to and from school).

In its first year Big Tree facilitated the donation of 200 bicycles, 240 school desks, 2400 school text books, in addition to its work with communities at the race. By the end of the fourth Absa Cape Epic in 2007, over 10 000 children had passed through its interactive education programmes as well as its bicycle skills workshops which were hosted at the race venue each day.

The ABSA Cape Epic organising team – Grandstand Management, have created a comprehensive list of ways that you could get involved with and raise money for The Big Tree Foundation…all I can say is that they must have had a good brainstorm because the list is quite creative!

If you would like to get involved with the Big Tree Foundation, click here for more info:

The JAG Foundation is also a great programme and is a new addition for the ABSA Cape Epic for 2009. Headed by former South African long distance runner Elana Meyer, it aims to inspire South Africa’s disadvantaged children to build a positive future for themselves and their families by encouraging them to participate in various sport-related programmes at grassroots level. By instilling sporting values for life, JAG aims to create an environment for South Africa’s children to fulfil their dreams and thereby rebuild communities.

If you would like to get involved with the JAG Foundation, click here for more info:

Where: Thrombie Falls, Underberg, KZN.

Taken by: Some lightie.

The crazy person: That would be my husband.  A little insight as to why I call my him Superjerm.

Send your “Out in Africa” pics to info@phuthu.co.za (less than 500kb please).

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