My 67 minutes: Di's Diary on Mandela Day

Today is not a nothing day. Today is the perfect opportunity to be better than yesterday, to do something - big or small to bring about a positive change in your world. Today is Mandela Day.  

Zelda la Grange spent 19 years with a world icon. It rubbed off. Hard work, that brings you to tears of frustration and exhaustion at times, for the right reason, must be done.

Bikers for Mandela Day is one such example.

She’s now done this seven times: gathering fellow bikers, friends, celebrities  sponsors asking them to give of their time, their skill, their money, their hearts to travel with her to far flung parts of the country and across the borders, living the example of Madiba. And every year, they do. 

On this trip, all bikers and support staff are equal. No one receives preferential treatment and everybody counts. The communities where service is done are the VIP’s. Besides the painting, planting, donation of money and supplies, respect, acknowledgement and love is given. 

After today, Zelda would have travelled some 20 000 kilometres on her her big motorbike, for her former boss and eternal mentor. 

That’s her way of celebrating Mandela day - her example of what could be done. You can just show kindness or give some of your time to someone who needs it.

Maybe the question isn’t “Why” we do what we do … it should be “Why not?” If you have never participated in Mandela day, why not do your 67 minutes of service today?

If you have, why not do it again … today and every other day. 

The ideal is after all, to make every day a Mandela Day.