On 27 March 2022, Stellenbosch University staff members Robert van Staden, and Francois Swart finished the gruelling Absa Cape Epic after 657 kilometres and 16 900 meters of climbing over 8 days to raise awareness for Stellenbosch University’s #Move4Food campaign.
Swart, at Facilities Management, and Robert van Staden, at the Faculty of Education, had to keep the wheels rolling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep fit for this race. They are now giving over the #Move4Food baton to Maties alumni Petro Mostert and her riding partner Vibeke Moore who will be riding the 990km, 9 day, Joburg2C mountain bike adventure from 22 to 30 April 2022 from Heidelberg to Scottburgh on the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal. The pair will take over from Van Staden and Swart to raise awareness for the campaign that the Epic team started.
But the relay does not stop at Scottburgh, as the Joburg2C riders will then hand over to a team of four adventure racers racing the Adventure Race Croatia from 14-22 May 2022. The team consists of three Maties Alumni, Tamaryn Larkman, Caroline de Villiers and Ryan Larkman, all three from Elgin. Their fourth member is Harold Smook from Onrus River. Their 550 km race over 4 days will include mountain biking, paddling, running, roping and navigation. As part of their effort, they will be raising awareness for Maties Alumni’s Bridge the Gap campaign.
“Fundraising to help students is a proud Matie tradition with staff members keen to get involved,” says Stellenbosch University’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers.
“I do the Cape Town Cycle Tour every year with colleagues, students, alumni, and friends. This year, I must admit, I suffered a bit! It is all for a good cause: #move4food, SU’s campaign to raise funds to improve food security for our students.”
#Move4Food is one of the priority initiatives under the University’s annual fundraising campaign, Bridge the Gap. This Annual Fund aims to remove the obstacles hindering Maties on their road to success.
Our SU relay teams want to raise funds to provide immediate relief to curb student hunger on SU’s campuses and ensure that no student will have to study on an empty stomach.
They challenge all other cyclists, SU staff, students, donors, alumni, friends of the University, and the general public to open their hearts and wallets and donate towards this worthy cause.
Mostert and Moore urge their supporters to please donate to the campaign started by the Epic riders.
