Three cyclists raise more than R1m in only 11 days

After cycling through the most rural parts of the country, three passionate bikers return home to their families today, having raised more than R1 million to change the lives of others.

One of them, Hendrik Steytler, said the journey through the country’s western parts between Cape Town and Pretoria started as a dream of his after listening to and observing the work Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels show, hosted by Martin Bester, had been doing for the past six years.

He said he wanted to make a contribution; to give back to people in need.

The Miles for a Million tour started on April 30, and the bikers are expected back in Pretoria today.

They rode through Wellington, Ceres, Kouebokkeveld, Houdenbek Farm, Tankwa Padstal, Tankwa River Lodge, Sutherland, Fraserburg, Carnavon, Vosburg Town, Britstown, Potfontein, Petrusville, Van Der Kloof Dam, Luckhof, Koffiefontein, Petrusburg, Dealsville, Bultfontein, Wesselbron, Bothaville, Vredefort, Parys and Sandton.

The plan was to raise R1 million for Good Morning Angels by inviting the public to sponsor each kilometer at R500 each. But the team was able to raise more than that.

The bikers are caught up in a big storm 30km outside Britstown in the Karoo during day six of their 11-day journey. Picture: Supplied

They are expected to finish off at The Big Red Barn in Irene where their welcome ceremony, Tracker’s Off the Beat ’n Track, will be held.

“I started with this project about one year ago, contacting Good Morning Angels regarding a trip that’s been a dream of mine for three years: to ride from Cape Town to Pretoria.

“They were very interested and we planned for the last few months to get this thing going,” Steytler said. “It’s been a tough journey but it’s amazing that we were able to raise more than our benchmark. We are grateful.”

Fellow biker Ivor Potgieter said he was honoured to have been chosen to participate because, although they travelled through the most unexpected weather conditions and overcame several hurdles, it was all worthwhile, knowing they would be changing someone’s life.

“On paper the mission looked great but the actual journey was a different monster, it was a very difficult journey.

“But we also discovered parts of South Africa we had never seen and met great people, so it was a great experience,” he said.

Picture: Supplied

Deon Brink said it was fantastic to know they had raised more than R1 million.

Bester said the show had reached a lot of people and that it gave him a good feeling when people who supported the show made initiatives like this to assist them in giving back.

“It makes it all worthwhile,” he said. “We get a lot of requests for help and every Wednesday we announced the ones we are going to help.

“We will be looking through the requests and using the money to help them.”

– jenniffero@citizen.co.za

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