Anecdotes

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Thanks for a fantastic race! One of those experiences which make you feel privileged to be there....to have the time/money/health to do it!

Jeremy Sanders
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Shot for a lovely event and the Last min. entry. I am not sure if you guys know that Warren Valentine (Team 50) had to be admitted to Hospital on Sunday night with a punctured lung. He fell on day 3 hurting his ribs but continued and completed day 4. By Sunday he was in a lot of pain and his wife took him to Westville Hospital were he was admitted to ICU. He is now recovering in a general ward and we hope to have him home today or tomorrow.

Thanks again for a great event!

Marc Germique
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I just got back on Monday night, and I have to say the IMANA Wild Ride has to be the best event I have ever participated in. I went in without being fore warned, and everything pleasantly surprised me. The humanitarian side was overwhelming. I am a fundraiser by ‘profession’, and to see the generosity of the riders was phenomenal.

I loved the route, I loved the organization, I loved the people, I love the fact that it’s a ‘u win, I win’ situation, in that everyone is more than happy to give, and you guys give so much back. Thanks for all you did, and it was all done so well.

The only criticism I have, is you should warn us how much you plan to give us, my bag was bursting!!

Just want to say thanks so much again for such an incredible race!! I really have never experienced something quiet like the IMANA Wild Ride! Besides the fact that it took my mountain biking to a whole new level, the atmosphere and vibe is like something i have never experienced before. Really you guys did a fantastic job and very well done to everyone else who was involved. What a special and unique event.

Best regards,
Craig Stone
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Would just like to thank you all personally from myself and my son Jean Pierre du Plessis. We had a fantastic time and enjoyed every moment. The IMANA Wild Ride is a real EXPERIENCE and your efforts are much appreciated.

Regards
Derek du Plessis
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Well Done to you, Mandy, Glen and Steve (plus all the other staff). A fantastic experience and a great atmosphere. Laughed a lot (cried a little!!!) and met some really great people. I will be back next year and hopefully for many years thereafter both a Sani and Imana.

Thanks again to all of you, Imana and all of the other sponsors, staff and fellow riders.

Cheers
Donald Christy
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Thanks for all your effort from an organisational point of view. The role you played in ensuring the success of the event from a participants point of view is very underrated.

I heard today over the radio that conservationists are up in arms as the government has given the go-ahead for titanium to be mined along the Wild Coast. This has to be opposed vigorously and a body of all past participants could stand as one voice against this. Do you have contact details of participants dating back to the inaugural event? What are your guys feelings about this and lets see how the official channels of opposition propose handling this?

Derek McEwan
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From Renate and I a big thank you to you, Steve and all involved behind the scenes. We appreciate the privelage of riding this race and I feel special and humbled each time I take a moment during the ride to reflect on a few days of enjoying "life in Africa".

Mark and Renate Montgomery
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Thank you very much for an unbelievable week and a very well organized event (+ a well marked routeJ). I have to say that I was very proud to show off to Stan from Dischem what you guys are capable of. Needless to say they also had an absolute blast.

Once again thanks a million for everything.
Albe' Geldenhuys
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I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to you and all the others in your team for a wonderful Imana event. This was my first Imana ride and it certainly exceeded my expectations. I can’t even begin to imagine all the time and effort all of you put in to make this an amazing event but I am certainly grateful that I could be a part of it. The event supports a wonderful cause and you’re all heroes. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

John Westermeyer
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I just wanted to say a very big thank you for another superbly organized event and a fantastic time... I know you are the real backbone of all the organization - and thanks for keeping everything running so smoothly!!

Thanks to all you guys for another awesome week on the Coast! There isn't a better setting for a race, and I don't think the atmosphere of the Ride could be replicated by any other race!

Please accept my apologies that I never really took the opportunity to thank you personally for a superbly organised event. Every detail made it clear how much professional attention, love and dedication you put in. You earn greatest respect not only for the wonderful experience you’ve presented for us riders, but for the difference you make for the communities along the route.

To Mandy - thank you for that constant smile & happy face that greeted us at the finish each day and for organising our sleeping arrangements so well.

To Rebecca - thank you for that "nothing's too much" outlook that you have, especialy when feeling so ill.

Renate & Mark Montgomery
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Congrats on a wonderful IMANA Wild Ride, so well organized, what a pleasure and what an awesome ride it was. I certainly don't want to miss next year's race !

As you know I cycled with Owen Hemmingway, my first Imama, and can’t even begin to tell you how great it was, a bit harder than I expected, but over the moon that I managed to hang in there. It was great fun cycling with the peloton, they were a really great bunch of folk.

From my husband Brian and me, all I would like to say is congratulations on such a professional team, and a really wonderful race, all well done.

Thanks and regards
Brian and Lorraine Parsonage
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A huge thank you for making Ewald's dream come true. He has been talking about doing the Imana with Errol since Errol's first Imana nine years ago. Ewald was 10 at that time. Now 19 he has done as per him the most awesome race and the cherry on the cake is to have it with his dad!

The two of them had great fun. Errol is also so happy to have been able to have done the event with Ewald. I am sure they will for many years still talk about the Imana ride.

Kind regards
Elmarie Thole
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Thanks for the incredible ride - it was really amazing and the organization superb.

Bruce Rencken & Mark Perrow
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Just a quick thanks to you for being so kind as to forward me the entry to the race in the last few weeks. I was not sure what I was getting into when I made myself available to help out but I had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I must confess that I also had a few moments of self-doubt until the Peloton started to gel - which pretty much happened about the same time my clothes came off. (Now I know that if I’m ever in doubt again, I will just get naked. Should solve any problem one-way or the other.)

I have always felt privileged to be able to ride that section of our country and to be a part of your race and the experience was made even better this year with being able to contribute in the small way I could towards the great cause of WREC. I have challenged anyone to name a race in the world that could be better than the IMANA Wild Ride so if you know of anything that comes close than let me know as I want to enter.

Cheers and thanks again
Nic Jordan
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A big thank you again for a super week at the wildcoast from myself and Nelleke and the rest of the Stellenbosch crowd. It's common knowledge by now in these parts that you guys organise the best races in the country.

Best regards
Wynand Lategan
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Thank you very much for all the hard work you (and Steve, Glen and others) put in to the event. I think it is a rare privilege to participate in such a well-organised, fun event with great people, and where it is all in aid of a good cause at the same time!
Well done - I really think you have something unique going. I hope that the funds spent on the education projects bear fruit.

We left too early on Saturday morning to say our goodbyes. So just to let you know that we had a fantastic time. Yet again, an exceptionally well organized event.

Thanks for an AWESOME event. It was outstanding - thank you. We are already looking forward to next year. Single speed with 29er wheels and lets see how well we can do with some training!

Regards
Tim Keep
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2008 was my first IMANA Wild Ride. I had such a good time; I am seriously battling to come to terms with life back in the Cape. As a newcomer to the Transkei coast, I cannot stop talking about the beautiful scenery, warm water and general tranquillity of that part of our coast. Only heaven can top that wonderful feeling I had.

The whole IMANA Wild Ride team deserves to be congratulated on organising this event. I have loads and loads of applause and not one single negative point to raise. I can only hope that one day, heaven is this well organised, if ever I get there.

Thank you once again for your contribution to orchestrating all the good that flows from this event.

Yours in heaven,
Johann Reinecke
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It is so hard to explain the feeling of gratitude and accomplishment, to be part of something so beautiful, photo's says it so much better

Our heart is beating to the same humm here at Life In Motion and is 100% in line with your dreams and efforts.

To Imana, it is inspiring to know that together, we are SOUTH AFRICA, and we are here to stay and make a difference, one life at a time

Much love
Johann, Allegra, Heidi and Tim
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Another great IMANA Wild Ride. Thanks to all involved. In particular , thanks for sorting out the ferry on Mtata , Steve. That was, in my books, the single biggest improvement in the race this year.

Thanks for putting up another amazing race. I missed last year and would not like to miss it again as it remains the best race , ride and friendship week on my calander and from the conversations we had at the race all other riders as well.

Please extend my thanks to all the rest of the organising team and in particular Mandy who manages the logistics with a permanent smile despite difficulties.

Kind regards
Deon Engela
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Once again thank you to you and your co-organisers on an absolutely FANTASTIC event - once again. Having ridden 2007 and 2008 I definately experienced an improvement, despite once again having to ride at the back of the field.

Mandy was unbelievable - she never stressed, she had everything under control, it was stunning having her at the finishline every day. 2. Although probably unintentional it was good that the medics - James & Andrew - split up with James riding a little ahead of Andrew. It allowed James to tend to Arthurs knee without having to wait for Andrew. Suggestion - keep a team of medics at the rear of the field but consider another medic team mid-field. 3. The ferry crossing across the Umtata river - thanks for saving us the 1 hour wait. The crossing was quick and painless - well done! 4. The weather - I don't know how you did it but you organised absolutely perfect weather - awesome!.

Overall impressions: If I exclude the drive between Umgazi and Kei and exclude a seriously unfit partner (again!) I absolutely loved the event. I would do it over and over. It's a pity the last day is so long for the backmarkers but who cares - it's simply fantastic.

Well done to you, Steve, Glen, Mandy and the rest of your crew and sponsors for giving me another lifetime memory.

God Bless
Mike Andrew
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It's so hard to put into words what emotions have come from doing the IMANA Wild Ride, to say it was awesome, I think is obvious, but for Warren and I (me I suppose in particular) it was a magical experience, and I loved everything, even the love of the Mothers... all 782 of them!!

Each day brought with it a myriad of experiences, but for me, it was so much more, the people, you crazy organizers- Our Admiral who was barking like a puppy - still stayed and bashed through it all, and, took time out to chat to me every day, even in your busy running around, thank you!

Being a first timer at this, I had no idea what I was in for, and man did it blind side me badly, by 1/2 way through day 1, much to poor Warren's humiliation, I had an all new goal - "I'm going to finish this thing (think he secretly hoped I'd bail) - and I'm going home afterwards, and not in a pine box" - So, I achieved my goals.

To Steve, biscuit, boetie, thanks, you gave us so much by giving us a head start from Day 2. I don't think you know how much, each day was THAT much more bearable because at least we saw everyone. - We were even fortunate enough to see the front dudes, which the middle guys didn't! I suppose too, that every single rider passed me - 3 times, not 4, because day 1 I was at the back, when I walked up sunrise surprise, Warren's SUN SET! .... And for the record, when we took our own "sneak" on day 3, WARREN WAS THE NAVIGATOR, not me, can't navigate from behind!!

So from Warren and I...
Thanks.. So much!
Sharon Fuchs, Imana Foods
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Thank you for a wonderful opportunity – I really enjoyed the event, or in my case, the ride/tour – I always knew that the Wild Coast was a special place, but being that close to it on a bike was awesome. I hope that the event goes on for many years to come and that the community continues to benefit from the much needed assistance.

Bruce Houghting
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Been meaning to mail to say thanks for the most wonderful experience. Gerald is enjoying the Olympics but I know that if he/we had the choice, we would both be doing another week of the Imana! It was just the most fantastic ride and all the motivation I needed to get a bit fitter!

Sue Stroh
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