Whenever a group of loving individuals join forces for an event that is aimed at uplifting those in need, you can rest assured that the legacy of their work will inspire others to do the same.
This was exactly the case when Mindful Living and Yoga couple, Elizabeth and Francois Beer, decided they would invite some of their inspirational friends to get involved in a fundraiser for Net vir Pret.
Danny feels that the world needs more love activists and that everything needs to follow love activism.
As part of the second monthly Bikers with a Purpose SA ride to Barrydale, Elizabeth and Francois decided to invite Cape Town humanitarian Danny Diliberto of Ladles of Love, JP Gyuer as well as former Ambassador Shirish Soni and his wife Ruweida of the Art of Living to be part of the event which took place on February 5.
Various Rotary Club members also participated in this bike run turned awareness campaign which concluded at The Country Pumpkin.
“Thank you to all our special guests including deputy Mayor Michael Pokwas, Ambassador Soni, Nigel from Rotary Club Swellendam and all of our Art of Living Family and the International Association for Human Values volunteers who travelled in convoy from Cape Town to Barrydale,” Elizabeth said.
“So many visitors who had never been here before attended this bike run and hopefully they shall continue to visit our gorgeous village.”
To this point ambassador Soni, who because of respiratory complications had been in isolation for two years prior to this event, gave his assurance that he would make it his goal to ensure that many more influential individuals would be introduced to the loving culture that is so prevalent in Barrydale.
“These passionate, highly energetic people want to promote tourism in this area and in doing so support the youth and Net vir Pret in their endeavours and to ensure that bikers play their part in removing the carbon footprint by planting trees and establishing vegetable gardens,” Soni said.
He added that the involvement of Ladles of Love – one of the most impressive feeding schemes in the country – is perhaps the best indication that this project driven by Elizabeth and Francois is on the right track.
Ladles of Love support more than 200 Soup Kitchens throughout the Western Cape and deliver up to 140 000 sandwiches to those soup kitchens – every week.
It was then no surprise that Ladles founder Danny Diliberto arrived in Barrydale with a bakkie load of vegetables and non-perishables that were donated to the Net vir Pret Soup Kitchen.
“When I was asked If I could come to support this bike run I asked whether I could bring food – and that’s what I did,” Danny said.
Apart from the food, Danny also delivered a very important message.
He feels that the world needs more love activists and that everything needs to follow love activism.
“We need to respect each other, we need to take care of each other,” he said.
“I began to realise that we can’t just do random acts of kindness, it has to be a daily act of kindness.
“I’m not talking about donating money. I’m talking about being kind to yourself and what you feed your body and mind – just how we treat each other. Any act of kindness on a daily basis will do. We all need to change to a mentality of kindness and love and we need to start doing that now.”
After a site visit by the bikers at Net vir Pret, the day’s activities were concluded at the Country Pumpkin where owner Dereck de Villiers raised R8000 for the NPO by auctioning off an antique cabinet.
The next Bikers with a Purpose Run is scheduled to take place on March 12 and will this time conclude at The Karoo Daisy.
