Cyclists Ride for Children at St Joseph’s Care

Two Capetonians are set to take on one of the province’s toughest mountain bike races in honour of the patients and staff of St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care, a Catholic facility for children in Montana, Cape Town.

Regan Bagley and Jermaine Carelse, who have a background in law enforcement and firefighting, respectively, will compete in Wines2Whales, a 3-day cycling race in October/November. The pair are seeking to raise money and awareness for St Joseph’s, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

Wines2Whales, part of the prestigious Epic Series, attracts riders from across the world and challenges participants with rugged trails, steep climbs, and breathtaking scenery across the Western Cape.

St Joseph’s is a 175-bed facility that provides free, transitional care to children from vulnerable communities across the Western Cape. Referred by hospitals and healthcare providers throughout the Cape Metropole, these young patients face chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy, infectious diseases, brain injuries, neurological disorders, and cancer.

At St Joseph’s, they receive expert multidisciplinary, rehabilitative, and restorative care — bridging the critical gap between hospital and home.

Bagley said he and Carelse were driven to take on the challenge of Wines2Whales by the commitment of the St Joseph’s staff, whom they describe as “The Avengers”.

“I’ve been all over South Africa doing safety and security, putting my life at risk. But when you look at the individuals who take care of these young patients, they have to wipe off tears and motivate and create an atmosphere of positivity and healing every day. They are the real heroes, and that inspires me. I salute them for that,” Bagley said.

 Riding for change

At St Joseph’s, some of the children in their care face life-limiting conditions. The palliative care team walks alongside these children and their families, offering expert, compassionate support through every stage — prioritising comfort, dignity and love, especially when cure is no longer possible.

Bagley first heard about St Joseph’s when he was searching for outreach programmes to partner with in Cape Town. After visiting the hospital and meeting the young patients and the staff who cared for them, he knew it was an organisation worth working with.

“We walked through the hospital, meeting the various therapists and support teams, seeing the little smiles and the tears. We saw the sanctuary, where children are taken when they pass away, and families spend the last moments with their little ones — it broke our hearts. As a father, it stays with you. You’re meant to protect your child. The dignity and love provided by St Joseph’s staff to these families is admirable.”

Bagley says his involvement with St Joseph’s was motivated by a desire to provide a positive male role model. Some of these children have parents who cannot visit, either due to transport affordability, even for those living in nearby communities, or social circumstances, and some have no father figures at all.

Beyond visiting the facility and engaging with the patients, he wanted them to know that there are men who care about them and want to make a difference in their lives.

 Inspired by courage

As road cyclists, Wines2Whales will be outside of Carelse and Bagley’s comfort zone, but the duo is planning on ensuring they are as ready as possible come October. The race is known for its tricky terrain and extreme elevation, with riders expected to notch over 4,500m of elevation across the three days of racing.

They have a strict training plan in place and will take on a series of shorter offroad races in anticipation of Wines2Whales. The first race on their calendar was GravDuro, a one-day event starting in Elgin on June 1. The route is a total distance of 83km.

Despite their stringent training programme, they know Wines2Whales will be challenging. But the pair say their motivation to succeed will be driven by the young patients and staff of St Joseph’s. Carelse explained that when the going gets tough, they will remember who they are riding for and why they are riding to raise money for St Joseph’s.

“It’s not just about getting the time that you desire. It’s about the drive to succeed for St Joseph’s, which is driven by the love I have as a parent. I believe that will help us get over all the obstacles we’re going to face. We’re going to be riding for that entire hospital. We’re going to be riding for the staff. We’re going to put all our attention on the fact that if they are able to give 200% every day to help those kids, we can do it.”

Beyond wanting to help the young patients at St Joseph’s, Bagley and Carelse want to inspire all South Africans to make a difference in the lives of others.

“If we all stand together, we can make the burden a little bit lighter for the parents and the awesome staff who are relentlessly pushing on day after day to help children with life-limiting chronic illnesses feel better, live better, smile and play, because every child deserves that. Children are our future,” Carelse said.

To support Regan and Jermaine’s ride for St Joseph’s or to donate, visit Donation Page – St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care Ref: Wines2Whales

Every contribution helps restore a fragile child’s chance to walk, talk, and thrive beyond hospital walls.