One thing South Africans will do is support one another! After seeing firsthand the compassionate and free care that chronically ill young patients receive at St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care, Regan Bagley and Jermaine Carelse were moved to get out of their comfort zone and give back to the worthy charity, which works so hard to give children hope that they can thrive beyond hospital walls.
Cape Town, South Africa (20 May 2025) – Two Capetonian heroes are set to take on one of the province’s toughest mountain bike races in honour of who they call the city’s real heroes: the patients and staff of St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care.
Regan Bagley (L) and Jermaine Carelse (R), who have a background in law enforcement and firefighting, respectively, will endure three days of rugged trails and steep climbs on their bikes across the Western Cape as they compete in the Wines2Whales cycling race in October/November.
More than just an adventurous expedition, the pair are taking on the challenge to raise money and awareness for St Joseph’s, a non-profit children’s hospital located in Montana, Cape Town, celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2025.
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 says he and Carelse were driven to take on the cycling challenge by the commitment of the St Joseph’s staff, who 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, and 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,” says Bagley.
Riding for change
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’s involvement with St Joseph’s was motivated by a desire to provide a positive male role model. Some of these children have parents who can’t 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 zones, 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 the main event.
Carelse explains 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,” Carelse says.
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,” a passionate Carelse adds.
To support Regan and Jermaine’s ride for St Joseph’s or to donate, visit St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care’s donation page and use the reference Wines2Whales.
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