POLOKWANE – The 2017 Sun City to Table Bay Charity Cycle Tour kicked off on Monday, 27 February 2017, at Meropa Casino in Polokwane.
35 Intrepid cyclists took part in a 60km exhibition ride to Chuenespoort and came back to Meropa just to warm up for their 2 222 km ride to The Table Bay in Cape Town. The tour is now in its 15th year and aims to raise funds and awareness for charity.
This annual event coincides with Meropa’s 15th anniversary and it is the first time Meropa is supporting the tour and as the point of departure.
The Polokwane based beneficiaries include CANSA TLC, who received R50 000; Ngwana House, who accepted R45 000 and Luthuli Park Combined School, who received R30 000 on behalf of the school. The Acting HOD for the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture was also in attendance.
The cyclists have now left Meropa and are on their way to Sun International’s Carousel where they will stopover for another handover to local charities there.
During the 2017 tour, the cyclists will handover donations of more than R600 000 to various charities.
Handovers will take place at Meropa (Polokwane), The Carousel Entertainment World (Gauteng), Sun City (North West), the Flamingo Casino (Kimberley), the Golden Valley Casino (Western Cape) and at the Table Bay (Western Cape).
The cyclists will not only donate money and products to charity organisations en route to Cape Town, but will also support the World Bicycle Relief Organisation and promote the sport of cycling by donating bicycles to previously disadvantaged individuals.
The 2017 Sun City to Table Bay Charity Cycle Tour includes participants from South Africa, Germany and Austria. Training and preparation started in July last year, as without the necessary preparation riders, will not be able to complete the event. It is not a relay and each participant is expected to cycle the entire distance, covering approximately 220 km per day.
Follow The Sun City to Table Bay Charity Cycle Tour on www.charitycycletour.co.za or on Facebook: Sun City to Table Bay Charity Cycle Tour.