After being knocked down by a Taxi this cyclist is getting back on the bike and sharing his story

I Have A Name recently shared the story of Calvin and his dedication to getting back on the bike after being knocked down by a taxi. This is his story…

My name is Calvin,

From a very young age I was fascinated by bikes. I grew up in a small town in the North West, but could never convince my family to spend money on a bike for me no matter how much I pleaded.

When I was 12, I saved up money by selling sweets and chips and bought my first bike from a friend. He wanted R250 for it, but I gave him R120 and promised to pay him the rest when I had it. I was staying with my aunt at the time, and when she saw me walk in with the bike – a put together bit of rusting junk in her eyes – no chain, two different wheels…she told me to take it back and that she couldn’t believe that I had paid money for it. It broke my heart to give it back…and my friend had already spent the R120… so I never got my money back. A tough life lesson!

After school I saved up and bought my first ‘rideable’ bike – it was a mountain bike. How I loved that bike, even though it gave me no end of troubles and I was always having to fix things on it.

I’m part of a group that helps uplift youth in our area in Soweto. There are a lot of kids who don’t have anything to do after school and we have a biking program that we do with them. We teach them how to ride safely, encourage them to wear helmets, teach them how the bike is put together and also make sure that they have working brakes. Soccer is really the big sport around the township, but if kids are not into that, or if you are a girl, then there are not a lot of other sports options. We have lots of kids that are really growing to love cycling.

Last year, with the help of friends I got a proper bike – a carbon bike – it was a beauty! I signed up for the 94.7 and completed it in 3hrs and 16 minutes. I was over the moon. In April I took part in the Old Mutual JoBerg2C race. I’m part of a cycle group called Bhoni4kasi and we were sponsored to take part – Roadcover paid for our kits, Cube Bicycles sponsored the bikes and JoBergC sponsored our entries. It was an awesome race covering 910km over 8 days starting in Heidelburg and ending in Scottburgh.

On the 25th of May, not even a month later, I decided to go visit a friend one afternoon. I stay in Soweto. As I was crossing a busy street, a taxi hit me- I was flung into the street unconscious and my bike was destroyed. I woke up to paramedics carrying me to an ambulance. I was taken to Bara . The doctors suspected that I had broken my spine, but thankfully that was not the case. I had broken my collarbone and torn a bunch of muscles in my thigh. I was in hospital for 2 weeks – I could not walk – not even on crutches because of my broken collarbone . One of the pills I was given gave me severe panic attacks, and thankfully I was told to stop taking it. I was eventually sent home to recuperate.

My recovery has been nothing short of a miracle and although I am still doing physio I have already been back on a friend’s bike, and am determined to participate in the 94.7 again this year…but I don’t have a bike..”

I Have A Name posted asking if “anyone is able to help with the youth development program in Soweto – donations of used bikes/ helmets/ gloves/ or even a training session by someone clued up on bikes – how to fix your bike etc would be so appreciated.” Or if someone has a bike they can donate to Calvin so he can participate in the 94.7?