Dusi
"legends" urge paddlers to continue their mission
Durban - The paddling community is hailing Andrew "GI" King and Devlin Fogg
as "egends" for completing the gruelling task of carrying their canoe the
entire distance of the Hansa Powerade Dusi route in sweltering and humid
conditions.
While the pair is loathe to be swamped by this praise they agree that it was
a lot tougher than they had expected and have urged the canoeing community
not to forget the reason why they undertook the arduous record-setting task.
The team behind the Powerade Race For The River set out to raise awareness
for the ecological challenges being experienced in the uMsindisi and uMngeni
valleys, and the critical work being done by the Dusi uMngeni Conservancy
Trust (DUCT) to clean up these river systems.
"It was way harder than we expected it to be," said King. "If it wasn't for
our support crew and the response we've received from the paddlers and the
public I'm not sure how we would have managed, but they kept us focused and
got us to knuckle down and carry on."
The pair completed the trek from Pietermaritzburg to Blue Lagoon in Durban in
25 hours, covering over 135km on the road over three days.
"We took a lot longer than we expected, especially around Inanda Dam," said
King. "We didn't realise the distance we had to cover to get around the dam.
It's 4km across the dam on the final day, but took us 17 to 18km on the
road."
The pair acknowledged the effects on their bodies after carrying a canoe for
this length of time. "It was probably the only thing we didn't anticipate in
the lead up to the race, but we began to feel the effects of the compression
in our joints early on," said King. "Luckily for us, we had vast quantities
of Powerade to help our bodies cope and to replenish lost electrolytes."
King and Fogg received a great deal of support throughout their journey to
Durban with people acknowledging their efforts to raise awareness and support
for DUCT.
"I bumped into Hank McGregor in Umhlanga on Sunday and he came running up to
me and said we were legends for doing what we did, and that means so much
coming from someone with his stature!" said Fogg.
They were greeted at the finish line at Blue Lagoon in Durban with a heroes
welcome from thousands of supporters and admirers, amongst them Coca-Cola's
Head of Integrated Marketing and Communications, Lanya Stanek.
"Their achievement is staggering," said Stanek. "I hope the paddling
community can pick up on their passion for keeping the river systems free of
pollution. That will change the personal challenge for these two
ultra-athletes into a movement that will benefit everyone who lives in these
valleys forever."
"I hope people continue to use the DUCT hotline as we didn't set out to make
this a three day thing, as the efforts for the river need to continue," said
Fogg.
The Dusi uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) is thrilled that the race has
created a powerful new platform for the NGO to operate from, as it encourages
each and every paddler and river user to use the DUCT hotline (033 345 7571)
to report any incidents of river pollution.
ENDS
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The Powerade Race For The River team of Andrew
King (left) and Devlin Fogg run out of Pietermaritzburg alongside
conventional participants in the Hansa Powerade Dusi. |
Samantha Thompson / Gameplan Media |
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The Powerade Race For The River team of Andrew
King and Devlin Fogg (centre) get a warm welcome from the residents of the
Inanda dam valley on Day Three of the 2010 Hansa Powerade Dusi. |
Samantha Thompson / Gameplan Media |
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From left - Dusi icons Michael Mbanjwa and Ant
Stott join the crew of Andrew King and Devlin Fogg behind the Powerade Race
For The River on Intersite Avenue in Springfield Park en route to the finish
of the Hansa Powerade Dusi. |
Samantha Thompson / Gameplan Media |
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DUCT spokesperson Andrew Booth (right) joins
Powerade Race For The River team of Andrew King (right) and Devlin Fogg on
the outskirts of Windsor Golf course mere meters from their finish of the
Hansa Powerade Dusi. |
Samantha Thompson / Gameplan Media |
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DUCT spokesperson Andrew Booth (centre)
congratulates Andrew King (left) and Devlin Fogg of Powerade Race For The
River at the finish of the Hansa Powerade Dusi. |
Samantha Thompson / Gameplan Media |
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Powerade's Lanya Stanek welcomes home Andrew
King (left) and Devlin Fogg of Powerade Race For The River at the finish of
the Hansa Powerade Dusi. |
Samantha Thompson / Gameplan Media |
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