Disc Jockey rides for Charity

Among the hundred riders is DJ Alfrain Supaul. Supaul is not competing for the garland; he is hoping to complete the ride to raise funds for two institutions that cater to disadvantaged children. News Five’s Isani Cayetano found Supaul preparing for the Cross Country and has this story.

Alfrain Supaul, Radio Personality, Wave 105.9

“I had personal issues in my life and I read somewhere that out of the worst personal issues or some of the more telling personal hurts in your life come the greatest successes, I mean and I tend to read stuff and believe in it and I just fell in love with my bike.  It became an obsession almost.”

The sharp crack of the starting gun at dawn on Holy Saturday marks the beginning of a grueling hundred and seventy-four mile journey for scores of athletes participating in this year’s Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic.

For twenty-eight year old radio disc jockey Alfrain Supaul the race for the garland is a singular pursuit to win the hearts of Belizeans, enough for him to raise much needed funds for charity.  It’s been a lifelong dream to return to the community that fostered him and contribute meaningfully to the lives of children in need.

Alfrain Supaul

“I love kids and we have kids with disabilities in Belize and kids that basically have been dealt a bad hand so I decided, “you know what, no athlete in Belize has ever embarked on a personal journey to help kids” and I said, “you know what, let this  legacy.”

Alfrain Supaul

And with that a vision to participate in the eighty-fourth running of the yearly Easter race was born.  To compete however, Mr. Hype would have to shed pounds, dozens of it.  Over the past five months his exercise routine has been unswerving, pedaling his bicycle with a consistency that requires him to be as dedicated today as he was when he first started.

Alfrain Supaul

“In November I decided, “you know what, I’m getting bigger and I don’t want to get back to the size I was” and in the second week in November I think they had a ride and I just, I think it was the Ride Across Belize.  I think it’s either for cancer, I’m not sure but they had a ride and [uhm] I just did the ride and I started to work out.”

Losing weight has proven equally as challenging as overcoming the elements while on the road.

Karen Rosito, Nutritionist

Karen Rosito

“The sun will be a factor so you stay hydrated.  Every fifteen miles [you need to drink] a liter of water, right.  Every ten or fifteen miles, well for some people it’s ten miles, a whole bottle of water, a cycling sized bottle; every fifteen but for you if it’s extra hot that day your service people will make sure you get fresh water and we’ll bathe you down and everything.”

To prepare for the upcoming event Alfrain maintains a strict diet, aside from having to ride the circuit regularly.  With help from nutritionist Karen Rosito he goes through his physical exams.  Today they are measuring his weight using a digital ruler.

Karen Rosito

“A pound, we’ll minus a pound for whatever clothing, undigested food, stool or whatever you have inside your body.  You’re a male, you’re twenty-eight years old and you are five [feet] seven [inches].  For a man your age you need to have twenty percent body fat so I set the goal at twenty percent. Stand up please.”

At a hundred and ninety-three pounds the popular DJ still has a hundred and forty eight pounds of fat, excess adipose tissues which must be worked off in order to withstand the arduous course.

Next a venipuncture will be conducted.  Accompanied by Rosito, he visits the Belize Medical Laboratory for an analysis of his blood sample.  A hypodermic needle is then carefully placed into his arm and a small measure is withdrawn into a vial.  The result of the blood test, according to his doctor, is confidential.

The success of his ride across Belize to raise money for Stella Maris School and the Dorothy Menzies Childcare Center nonetheless, depends heavily on his ability to endure the rigors of the challenge.

Alfrain Supaul

“I done know, when dehn bwai go leff mi unu wah hear I come een two or three hours afta but I will finish because as you said I need to prove a point to people that, “you know what, if wah deejay could pick up wah bike and ride a hundred and forty plus miles fi show you that these kids are important then it’s worth putting in at least a dollar in that account.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.

Remember to tune in to this station for full coverage which begins at five-thirty on Holy Saturday.