(SOUTH AFRICA), 6 SEPTEMBER 2012. For the second year running, Kia Motors South Africa is proud to be a sponsor of the 2012 Cyclethon. On Saturday, 8 September 2012, the Smile Foundation and Hospice Wits are partnering again to host the 2012 Cyclethon. The event will take place at the Melrose Arch Piazza and will run from 08:00, right through to 17h00 and gives all entrants the chance to get in shape for summer by cycling to the beats of celebrity DJ’s, whilst meeting some of the country’s foremost celebrities.
The format for the 2012 Cyclethon remains the same as last year. There will be 100 Bikes per session, with professional Instructors leading each session. Each session will run for 50 minutes, with a 10-minute break in‐between to facilitate changeover of bikes.
All funds raised by the 2012 Cyclethon will be used to support the Palliative Care Programmes of Hospice Wits and the work of the Smile Foundation in providing Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery for Children with treatable facial conditions.
This year, Kia Motors South Africa has decided to donate a brand new Kia Picanto to the event. The car will be raffled off during Saturday, and through the course of September, and all proceeds will be added to the overall funds raised on Saturday. The lucky winner of the brand new Picanto will be announced on 29 September 2012.
“Once again, we are truly honoured to be part of this year’s event and it gives us great pleasure to partner with the Smile Foundation to raise funds for a very worthy cause”, comments Ray Levin, CEO Kia Motors South Africa.
Kia’s Ground Patrol team will also make an appearance at the 2012 Cyclethon, and will handout prizes during the Kia Take40 SA on Saturday morning. Some of South Africa’s favourite celebrities will also make an appearance on the day, while the brave ones will join in on the special celebrity cycling session from 13:00 to 14:00.
“Last year’s event was a tremendous success, with over R250 000 raised, adds Michelle Gerszt, Fundraising and Marketing Executive of the Smile Foundation. “This year, the event will be bigger and better, as we aim to raise over R500 000. We would like to invite the public, and encourage people of all ages to join us on Saturday for this exciting and fun-filled event”, Gerszt concludes.
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com — a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart — was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Over 2.5 million Kia vehicles a year are produced in 15 manufacturing and assembly operations in ten countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia today has over 47,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of US$39 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA — the governing body of the FIFA World Cup™. Kia Motors Corporation’s brand slogan — “The Power to Surprise” — represents the company’s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.
