More than 1 000km to raise funds for Matla a Bana
For the first time since 2020, Matla a Bana will be embarking on their Xtreme for Kids Cycle Tour. The gruelling 11-stage, two-wheeled endurance challenge began on March 1 and will see riders cycle 1675km in stages ranging from 100km to 270km.
For the first time since 2020, Matla a Bana will be embarking on their Xtreme for Kids Cycle Tour.
The gruelling 11-stage, two-wheeled endurance challenge began on March 1 and will see riders cycle 1 675km in stages ranging from 100km to 270km.
During the first leg, a 120km ride from Laerskool Muldersdrif to Parys, the West Rand Police’s cycle team joined the six other riders who continued. The tour ends on March 12 in Cape Town just in time to take part in the 2023 Cape Town Cycle Tour.
• Also read: Matla A Bana celebrates cyclist’s long journey
Matla A Bana is celebrating their 21st birthday this year and has been doing this ride since 2013. That first iteration featured three riders and while the numbers have fluctuated over the years, six riders have signed on for 2023, plus various volunteers assisting in support roles. The theme of this year’s tour will be #No2ChildRape, expanding on their core theme of assisting young victims of sexual abuse.
Matla a Bana is a specialised charity and the only non-profit organisation (NPO) to have a memorandum of understanding with the South African Police. The charity aims to curb secondary abuse by creating safe environments for sexually abused children to navigate the harsh and intimidating atmosphere of reporting said crimes.
Better reporting means better outcomes,” said Matla a Bana’s Founder, Managing Director, and figurehead, Monique Strydom.
The six-man all-Western Cape team will comprise team leader Allan Kleete, lawyer Hennie van Rooyen, and Elandsbaai police station commander, Gerrit Jonker. The serious cyclers saddling up are property investor Izak du Plessis, hydrogeologist Julian Conrad and the Managing Director of Wolf Security, who sponsored several of the support vehicles, Garth Briggs.
“We would not have been here if it were not for everyone’s support. Thank you to all the cyclists, we hope you have a fantastic tour,” said Monique.
In addition to the cycle tour, the support team will be stopping at 15 schools in four provinces to promote anti-bullying messaging. Reagan Carolissen will be playing Captain Bully Buster and will be converting children into constables as he and his sidekick, Worry Worm, educate children on the different types of bullying. The progress of the Xtreme for Kids Cycle Tour can be tracked on social media as Matla a Bana leave a trail of safer children and societal change.
Before setting off the team from Matla a Bana first spoke to learners from Laerskool Muldersdrif about bullying and safety. The kids who thoroughly enjoyed the show got to meet Captain B-Buster who taught them about the different bullies there are and how to handle bullies.
