Rx Radio reporter Qaqamba Cuba with Warrior on Wheels Foundation cyclist Ettienne Wilsnagh.
A RX Radio reporter raised just over R10 000 for the station while taking part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday March 9.
Qaqamba Cuba was able to raise a little over R8 000 through her GivenGain campaign and just under R2 000 at a pop-up to help cover the running costs of the station.
RX Radio is based at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and is run largely by children. It provides broadcasting skills, knowledge and entertainment to children with and without chronic conditions and disabilities.
“The station has experienced significant financial challenges over the past few years but, despite the hurdles RX Radio had to overcome, we have managed to raise funds to help us operate going into 2024, however the journey for raising funds still remains,” said Ms Cuba.
“As a board member and one of the founding members/reporters of the station, I wanted to use this as an opportunity to appeal to the public to donate to the station,” she said.
This was Ms Cuba’s first time participating in the Cape Town Cycle Tour but she has previously taken part in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon where she was pushed in a buggy by former Southern Striders runner Alan Jacobs. For the cycle tour, the station once again teamed up with the Warrior on Wheels Foundation where she was pulled in a buggy by experienced cyclist Ettienne Wilsnagh.
RX Radio junior project coordinator Chesley Daniels said it was encouraging to see Qaqamba, who is living with congenital scoliosis embarking on a journey to have children living with disabilities and chronic conditions integrated in sports.
“She has proved to be resilient, hardworking and dedicated in all facets of her life. Qaqamba’s journey is a story of inspiration to a lot of reporters as she has beaten all odds because living with a chronic condition can be quite challenging,” she said.
Razia Hisham from Warrior on Wheels said they met Ms Cuba in 2023 when her pilot runner for Sanlam Cape Town Marathon approached them to loan a running buggy. The foundation aims to uplift and empower children with disabilities by providing special adventures tailored for special kids, thereby changing perceptions of ability and bridging gaps between able-bodied and differently-abled communities.
“We could see Qaqamba had the mindset and personality for adventure and saw her commitment to helping the radio station. When we prepared our riders and teams for the 2024 Cape Town Cycle Tour we immediately thought of her and approached her about using the event as an opportunity to once again put RX Radio in the spotlight with a fundraising effort,” she said.