By Nangamso Mabindla
19 February 2004

WHEN he was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis, Buffalo City traffic superintendent Jannie Schoeman ignored his doctor's orders to take a pill and lie down. Instead, he searched the Internet for advice and came up with a simple solution: correct diet and exercise. Schoeman opted to take up cycling. Not only has he pedalled his way to better health, but the big man has spread the message to other sufferers of the debilitating disease with his Project Cycle tour, writes Nangamso Mabindla

Buffalo City traffic superintendent Jannie Schoeman is the picture of health: taller than 1,9m he towers over most people and walks tall. But this was not always the case, says the 57-year-old law enforcer. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Schoeman was told by his doctor that when the pain got too bad he was to "take your medication and go and lie down".

Schoeman decided not to take it lying down. "To be honest, I thought this was just the end, but I still felt there was some life left in me. I wasn't going to bow down to RA," he says.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA as it is sometimes called, is a systemic disease that affects the entire body. It is one of the most common forms of arthritis and is characterised by inflammation of the membranes lining the joints, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling.

Schoeman's desire to beat the odds and help others suffering from similar diseases sent him to the Internet to search for information on RA. "I discovered that the condition was no different from other diseases, but that often people just let it take over their lives," he says.

Paging through thousands of Internet sites, Schoeman discovered ways to lead a healthy life while living with the disease. He discovered that, with RA, the body's natural immune system does not operate as it should, resulting in the immune system attacking healthy joint tissue and causing inflammation and subsequent joint damage. "I figured that, instead of lying down and expecting it to go away, I needed to start living a healthy life by eating the right food (mostly seafood and Vitamin C) and start exercising to make sure my joints became active."

One idea he came across suggested that doing gymnastics would help keep the joints in working order. Not a person to be seen in tights, Schoeman decided that cycling was the way to go. He found that, once he had adjusted his lifestyle, the pain started to recede, enabling him to move more freely. "I'm not saying exercise is the only remedy. However, with the combination of medication, a healthy diet and exercise you stand a good chance of successfully living with rheumatoid arthritis."

Schoeman wanted to share his discoveries with others, so he investigated ways of spreading his findings. He hit on the idea of a cycle tour. Last year, he launched Project Cycle, a 10-day ride from East London to Cape Town. With 13 other cyclists, he took his message of a healthy lifestyle on the road.

Following Project Cycle, Schoeman received letters of appreciation from a young arthritis sufferer in Port Elizabeth and an RA sufferer in England. The traffic officer also thanked the people of East London for the support they showed him during the cycle tour, saying that they were one of the reasons he managed to keep going. "That is why I love the place; the people here are beautiful."

Another reason he could enjoy life, despite RA, was thanks to his family who supported him "through thick and thin", he says. Sons Blake and Dwayne cycled with him to Cape Town last year. Schoeman is now planning the mammoth project of cycling more than 1 800km, from Durban to Cape Town in November. "It's huge, but I will do it. I feel I owe people this much. And my daughter Janica, 17, wants to cycle with me."

Last year Schoeman also participated in the Argus Cycle Tour and is planning to do it again this year. He is also looking forward to taking part in the Die Burger-Sanlam cycle tour. But, for now, it's back to doing what he does best - law enforcement.