 and Livingstone Cycling Club made a triumphant entry into Zambia Air Force (ZAF)){kind=link}
Zambia: The Red Arrows Cycling Club (RACC) and Livingstone Cycling Club made a triumphant entry into Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Headquarters after completing a 03-day cancer and diabetes awareness ride from Livingstone to Lusaka.
And speaking on behalf of the ZAF Commander, Lt Gen Colin Barry, Acting Deputy Air Force Commander and COAIRS, Brig Gen Justine K Banda, commended the cyclists for embarking on the initiative, saying awareness leads to prevention and early detection of cancer and diabetes. He said this was important in saving lives as early detection gave people treatment and management options.
Brig Gen Banda urged the cyclist to continue their awareness efforts and noted that the event was gaining momentum in its second year.
He also assured the cyclist of support from ZAF Command, saying the event was birthed in memory of the Former Deputy Air Force Commander, the Late Maj Gen Kapotwe Chintu, who succumbed to cancer in 2019.
Brig Gen Banda also called on ZAF personnel to do their part, adopt healthy lifestyles, and undergo regular medical checkups.
And speaking at the same event, the Chief of Training, Brig Gen Kamima Nyirenda, said ZAF would continue to contribute positively to the country’s social, economic development. He said the Red Arrows sporting brand which boasts of sixteen sporting disciplines, was performing well both at national and international levels.
“The Red Arrows brand supports all sporting disciplines and does not consider any sport as being minor. Our conviction is that sport is a source of income and has the power to improve our youths’ lives and their families,” Brig Gen Nyirenda said.
Meanwhile, Chairman Red Arrows Cycling Club Chairman, Lt Col Bruce Milunga, thanked ZAF Command and the cooperating partners for their continued support towards the cycling event. He said without this support the awareness ride would not have been possible.
He stated that he was proud of all the cyclists for enduring and accomplishing the objective of cycling from Livingstone to Lusaka in order to spread awareness.
The RACC Chairman said he was pleased to note that in all the towns they rode through, they were able to distribute flyers and educate the public on the signs and symptoms of the diseases and that this increased the chances of successful treatment.
He was proud to single out the young female cyclist Vanessa who was part of the group and had just recently returned from representing the Red Arrows Cycling Club in Trinidad and Tobago. He also paid tribute to a 13-year-old boy who was one of the 45 cyclists from Livingstone to Lusaka.