Peer-to-peer
Become a Fundraiser for Maties
With more and more people stuck at home and spending more time online, peer-to-peer fundraising is an affordable and creative way for you to fundraise and spread awareness about the work done by the Matie hubs.
Peer-to-peer fundraising empowers our community of alumni and supporters to raise funds for various Stellenbosch University projects by starting a fundraiser of their own at their own pace. Our most important project right now is our Annual Fund, Bridge the Gap.
Peer-to-peer fundraising borrows elements from the most effective type of marketing — word-of-mouth. When you share your cause with a friend, your friend usually has to consider two things: (a) Do I trust that my friend will really do this? and (b) Do I support the cause my friend is sharing with me?
We will help you to set up your fundraiser page on GivenGain, create carefully worded email templates that you can personalise and send out, and support you in every way we can. We just need you to put yourself on the line.
In 2020, Matie alumnus Sven Weidner embarked on a 100-kilometre walk to raise funds for Stellenbosch University’s UK/EU Bursary Fund. In 2021 we started our #Train4Fees campaign to raise funds for student athletes who had lost their financial backing owing to the impact of COVID-19. More than 100 supporters signed up to run, walk and even skateboard, covering more than 60 000 km in the process. We received 481 donations, and ultimately raised over R1.8 million to assist 44 student athletes.
There are many and varied examples of how one can get involved and raise funds, for instance the fundraiser jazz concert in Zomergem in Belgium in 2019; a solo hike the length of Estonia that raised funds in support of #Move4Food; and an 80th birthday donation, where instead of gifts the birthday lady requested donations be made to student funding.
These are all great acts of generosity for which we are extremely grateful
In 2022 we have a number of initiatives that you could join when you become a fundraiser for the Maties Annual Fund, Bridge the Gap or any other Matie cause that appeals to your heart and compels you to put your body on the line.
If you would like to be a part of a fundraising initiative, please let us know and we will send you a step-by-step guide on how to start fundraising for SU and set up your fundraising page.
If you need assistance or more information, please do not hesitate to let us know. It’s what we’re here for. Please contact Siya Ndlovu at ndlovus@sun.ac.za or on +27 21 808 4456.
So, are you ready to get started with peer-to-peer fundraising?
The Cape Town Cycle Tour
Sunday, 13 March
For the past 43 years the Cape Town Cycle Tour, presented by Pick n Pay, has contributed millions of rand to social upliftment and Stellenbosch University is proud to have a charity entry in this prestigious tour. We are looking for riders who will become champions of the Matie Annual Fund, Bridge the Gap – a campaign to help talented Maties cross the financial hurdles on their path to achieving success.
The 2022 Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCT) is a major event where alumni and friends will be cycling and fundraising for Bridge the Gap. Join in the fun and camaraderie with our special edition cycling Tshirt while riding with the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, and enjoying our postevent hospitality.
It is easy to link your existing entry to our charity entry for the CTCT, one of the world’s leading cycle events and the first event outside Europe to be included in the Union Cycliste Internationale Golden Bike Series.
Joberg2C
22-30 April
Entries into Joberg2C, referred to as the world’s longest, most inspiring, 9-day mountain biking long stage race, are limited. It’s 900 km in 9 days across 4 provinces of South Africa and it was created by mountain bikers for mountain bikers. Apart from the adrenalin of the ride, you’ll get to experience unique community spirit from village to village. The race has seen a myriad of nations join South African riders in discovering the incredible country which the race explores. It is 9 days of escape from ordinary life to do the extra-ordinary and an opportunity to raise funds to support our incredible students – many of whom come from the villages you’ll visit. If you have an entry or are considering an entry, please contact us.
Visit https://www.joberg2c.co.za/ and keep an eye on our social media channels
Comrades Ultra Marathon
Sunday, 28 August
Known as The Ultimate Human Race, you cannot call yours an iconic marathon bucket list if one of the oldest marathons in the world – first started in 1921 – is not on there. Sign up for the iconic Comrades Marathon race where our Bridge the Gap runners will be pushing boundaries to champion the cause – will you join them in raising funds for your alma mater?
Visit https://www.comrades.com/ and keep an eye on our social media channels.
So, are you ready to get started with peer-to-peer fundraising?
The Spar Women’s Challenge
September 2022 Johannesburg, Tshwane, Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban and Pietermaritzburg
Female runners, joggers, and walkers come out in their numbers for the SPAR Women’s Challenge every year. This annual road race offers women of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels the opportunity to take part in a 5km or 10km road race. Whether virtual (as in 2021) or in-person, you can put on your running shoes to support our Matie students. Will you help us Bridge the Gap?
The SPAR Grand Prix Series is an elite women’s race and the only competition of its kind in South African road running. The Grand Prix series allows the continent’s most outstanding female runners to score points across six SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km races and be eligible for cash prizes and other rewards. The global COVID-19 pandemic saw the cancellation of the 2020 Spar Grand Prix Series, while in 2021 an invitational series was arranged, limiting each race to a maximum of 250 runners. Let us hope that 2022 could see the return of the SPAR Women’s Grand Prix Series. Will you be prepared to compete and fundraise for us?
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Saturday, 15 October and Sunday, 16 October
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is now an Abbotts World Marathon Majors Candidate and Africa’s only IAAF Gold Label status marathon. Africa’s first Marathon Major will be held in 2022 and the festive running weekend includes the road marathon and two trail runs, one over a distance of 46 km and the other over 22 km.
All staff, students, alumni, and friends are invited to do something special to help our Maties win their academic race. Please sign up to fundraise in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 2022.
947 Ride Joburg
Sunday, 20 November
Are you up for the challenge? Gather your Matie friends, enter the 947 Ride Joburg cycle races in 2022 and raise funds for a worthy cause while you’re at it.
You might choose to raise funds for students in financial need, bolster an existing bursary fund or support our Bridge the Gap annual fund – it’s up to you. Whether you choose to race through the city streets of Johannesburg or take on an incredible network of mountain bike trails – the Maties Development and Alumni teams will be there to support you along the way.
Visit https://ridejoburg.co.za/ and keep an eye on our social media channels.
Desert Dash Namibia
December 2022
In 2021, we had two teams compete and raise funds for the Maties Namibia Bursary Fund. That took some courage! The Desert Dash, which is the longest single-stage mountain bike race in the world, covers 393km from Windhoek to Swakopmund with cyclists travelling over the Khomas Hochland Mountains and through the Namib. This annual event attracts cyclists from all over the world competing as solo cyclists, two-person teams and four-person teams.
If you are considering an entry into the Desert Dash in 2022 and would like to fundraise for a great cause, please contact Randall Adams at adamsr@sun.ac.za.
