13/09/2024
Juwellen pedals to victory!
For the first time, Juwellen Simons, a dedicated gardens and maintenance team member at Placid Waters Resort in Sedgefield, took on the annual RACE35 Challenge. This competition, hosted by the Beekman Group, invites staff from across the company to participate in a 35-day wellness challenge, focusing on either weight loss or distance goals. The distance challenge spans three categories—walking, running, and cycling—where participants track their progress using the Strava app.
On a routine visit to Placid Waters Resort, Hannelie Millar, the defending champion in the cycling category, decided to use the resort's gym during her lunch break to reach her daily cycling target. While she was pedalling on the indoor trainer, Strava sent her a notification—Juwellen was out on the streets during his lunch break, clocking up kilometres. Impressed by his commitment, Hannelie was eager to meet her up-and-coming competitor.
Excited by the unexpected competition, she immediately messaged her cycling coach back in Margate, Anesh Sooklal, urging him to check out Juwellen's progress on Strava. What started as a routine challenge soon unfolded into a heartwarming story of camaraderie and determination.
Taking on challenges with a sprinkle of gumpf!
Despite these challenges, Juwellen’s determination never wavered. He extended his daily route to add extra kilometres and took advantage of his lunch breaks and weekends to cover even more distance. Before long, his weekly average began to surpass Hannelie’s.
Impressed by Juwellen’s grit, Anesh Sooklal, Hannelie’s cycling coach, decided to sponsor him.
Anesh also connected virtually with Juwellen and used a series of photos from various angles to improve his general bike setup, so that Juwellen would be more comfortable on his rides. With a new bike setup, shoes, seat and safety lights, Juwellen was now more equipped to take on the competition.
Juwellen zooms to triumph in the cycling showdown!
With newfound support and an unwavering competitive spirit, Juwellen’s speed and distance began to soar. Week after week, he consistently clocked impressive distances, ultimately completing the 35-day challenge with an astounding 728 kilometres. Hannelie finished in second place with a commendable 635 kilometres.
“I was happy to hand over the cup to him,” Hannelie remarked. “. His story puts so many things into perspective as far as ‘choosing your attitude’ goes, and I’m immensely proud of him for setting out to do this with the limited equipment and gear that he had. But I’ll see him on the starting line next year, and it will be GAME ON once again” she said.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Juwellen for this incredible achievement. He exemplifies the Beekman W.A.Y. in every sense. His managers speak highly of his work ethic, and it’s clear that his drive and determination to excel will continue to propel him to even greater success.
