Six cyclists that is taking part in Matla a Bana’s Xtreme for Kids Tour 2023 over 2 000 km, stopped over in Bloemfontein on Friday (03/03).
The tour including the cyclists and a group presenting an educational programme about bullies at schools, left Johannesburg on 28 February and will conclude on Sunday (12/03) in Cape Town.
The last stage for the cyclists is to take part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour over 109 km on Sunday.
Matla a Bana was started in 2001 by Monique Strydom who survived a four month hostage ordeal at the hands of Al Qaeda terrorists in the Philippines in 2000. On the morning of her release, she vowed to dedicate her life to help others in need. She founded Matla A Bana as a voice against child abuse after the rape of two babies.
Since then Matla a Bana has helped over 30 000 children every year.
To raise funds for this NGO, cyclists tackle the long road anually with up to 248 km per day over 10 days. The cycle event was started in 2013.
Since its humble beginnings, the Xtreme for Kids Cycle Tour is well known as one of the most difficult, but also life changing cycling events in South Africa. This tour is not about cycling only – it is about overcoming extreme conditions, team spirit, experiencing true South African hospitality and about touching and changing lives.
On Friday they left Welkom and traveled 157 km to Bloemfontein.
The team said they were treated to a wonderful supper on Friday in Bloemfontein and enjoyed their stay here before they left for Gariep Dam.
On Friday, Captain Bully Buster and members of the team visited the Heide Primary School in Heidedal and the children from grades 3 to 7 learnt more about bullies and how to handle them.
During the trip to Cape Town, the team will visit 15 schools and aim to reach more than 7 000 children.
The cyclist left Bloemfontein early on Saturday for Gariep Dam and then on to Graaff Reinet, Uniondale, Mosselbay, Swellendam through Wolseley and Durbanville to Cape Town.
Follow the journey of the Facebook Page Matla a Bana.
