Vision Solutions today announced its president and chief executive officer, Nicolaas Vlok, will participate in the Tour de Tuli-Manpungubwe Route, a four-day, 240-mile bike ride through the wilderness of Africa to raise funds for Children in the Wilderness. 

"Children in the Wilderness is a wonderful initiative positively touching and impacting many lives and is managed by people who have a passion for what they do in some very challenging environments," says' Vlok, a South African native now living in the United States. "Needless to say, I am honored to be one of the riders on this journey raising funds for such an incredible cause." 

From Aug. 3-8, approximately 300 mountain bikers will cycle across 240 miles of largely untouched wilderness on mostly single-track trails following various animal migration routes in restricted wilderness areas in South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Vlok's team is comprised of three American and six South African cyclists. Each group will be accompanied by two cyclist leaders on mountain bikes and cyclists will sleep in tents set up by volunteer staff that will meet up with the groups each night. 

"As one of South Africa's leading cycling providers, we are honored to be an equipment sponsor for these cyclists participating in a ride benefiting such a worthy cause," adds Fritz Pienaar, professional cyclist and founding member of Fritz Pienaar Cycles. 

"One of our goals for Tour de Tuli 2009 is to gain access to a larger audience in the international cycling community and to expand our fundraising activities through people who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of the children of Africa and therefore we are excited to work with Nicolaas and his team providing the Tour with U.S exposure," says Heather Wilson, Children of the Wilderness program coordinator. 

Children in the Wilderness hosts rural children whose lives have been disrupted by life threatening conditions such as illness, poverty and HIV/AIDS. The program teaches essential life skills and the importance of conservation by exposing children to their wildlife heritage, as well as building and strengthening their capabilities to cope with life's challenges so they actualize their greatest potential. Children in the Wilderness' mission develops environmental leaders who are inspired to care for their wildlife as these children will become the custodians in the future. 

To learn more, visit http://www.backabuddy.co.za/Nicolaasvlok. For more information about Children of the Wilderness, visit http://www.childreninthewilderness.com/ or call Heather Wilson at telephone number +27 11 807 1800. To learn more about Fritz Pienaar Cycles, visit http://www.fritzpienaarcycles.com or call Fritz Pienaar at telephone number +27 12 665 2190.
About Vision Solutions
Vision Solutions, Inc. is the world's leading provider of high availability, disaster recovery and systems/data management solutions for IBM Power Systems. With a portfolio spanning industry's most innovative and trusted HA technologies from iTERA, MIMIX and ORION Solutions, Vision keeps critical business information continuously protected and available. Affordable and easy-to-use, Vision products ensure business continuity, increase productivity, reduce operating costs and satisfy compliance requirements. Vision also offers advanced cluster management and systems management solutions along with support for IBM i, Windows, and AIX operating environments. As IBM's largest high availability Premier Business Partner (NYSE: IBM), Vision Solutions oversees a global network of partners and professionals to help customers achieve business goals. Privately held by Thoma Bravo, Inc., Vision Solutions is headquartered in Irvine, California with offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.visionsolutions.com or call 800.957.4511.