Extreme cycle challenge for charity
Cyclists take a stand against abuse
The Matla-a-Bana Xtreme Cycle tour started five years ago when three businessmen used their passion for cycling to assist abused children in South Africa.
Matla-a-Bana (MAB) is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) that was founded by ex-hostage Monique Strydom after the brutal rapes of babies Leratho and Tsepang in 2002. The aim of MAB is to minimise the secondary abuse children suffer when they report rape and abuse.
Since its humble beginnings, more than 40 cyclists have participated in the tour and, to date, only two cyclists have managed to complete the full tour every year, including team leader Dirk Lourens.
The tour is described as an extreme cycle tour with a difference, unlike any other cycle tour in South Africa. It is a tour with extreme conditions, where cyclists will be meeting the people of South Africa and experiencing real South African hospitality, while being able to help the less fortunate, and making an all-important direct impact on the lives of thousands of children.
The tour will be launched on 27 February at Clearwater Mall. On 28 February, the cyclists will start their journey when they depart from Johannesburg. They will cycle approximately 180km per day, under extreme conditions, to raise awareness of child protection. The tour will end on 11 March, with participation in the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
This year, the cyclists will form part of a National Schools Program, focusing on educating children on the importance of reporting crimes against them. They will be covering almost 2 000 km in 12 days, and visit nine schools during their journey. This year’s race will also include a rest day to recover from the extreme Karoo conditions, and a limited number of cyclists will be given the opportunity to join the tour for the last five days.
Since the first cycle tour, more than 30 000 children have been reached in rural areas with the various educational school programmes developed through the project and it has recently been extended to reach 10 000 children on the West Rand and Cape Flats. Ten bicycles have also been handed out to underprivileged children and more than R650 000 has been raised.
The stages to be cycled are as follows:
– Stage 1: Johannesburg to Parys (120 km)
– Stage 2: Parys to Welkom (190 km)
– Stage 3: Welkom to Bloemfontein (157 km)
– Stage 4: Bloemfontein to Gariep (271 km)
– Stage 5: Gariep to Graaff Reinett (248 km)
– Stage 6: Gariep to Uniondale (161 km)
– Stage 7: Uniondale to Mosselbay (157 km)
– Stage 8: Mosselbay to Swellendam (168 km)
– Stage 9: (Swellendam to Wolseley (151 km)
– Stage 10: Wolseley to Durbanville (104 km)
– Stage 11: Cape Town Cycle Tour (109 km)
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