The challenge wasn’t meant to be competitive, but rather a fun outdoor entertainment activity that brought the clients’ families together.
Absa’s aim was to strengthen old relations and to also build new ones. They brought along legendary cycling duo, Claire Dowdle and Alistair Bassett to help them do that.
During an interview, Dowdle told of her gruelling ordeal during rides in Cycle Mashatu in Botswana that went wrong but, she said, she persevered. “I just kept going,” she said.
Clients were also treated to a rare opportunity to bid on a Springbok jersey. The proceeds of the auction will be donated to the Diepsloot Mountain Biking academy.
William Mokgopo of the academy – and one of their star riders who is also now a University of Pretoria student – told his tale. He admitted that if it were not for the opportunity he received through the mountain biking academy, he would not be where he was now. “Right now, I’ve taken a step back from mountain biking as I need to concentrate on my exams and being a student,” he said.
“[However] I have a desire to be a professional biker and take it up as a career.”
The jersey, which was signed by all the current Springbok players, eventually went to an unnamed lucky bidder for R5 000.
