For the seventh year in a row, a group of determined Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 alumni will swap city pavements for country lanes as they take on the iconic London to Brighton Cycle Ride. But the team of nine Maties is not just cycling for the thrill of the 89 km challenge – they're chasing a combined fundraising target of ?5 300 to support academically talented Maties who face financial barriers to completing their studies.
Under the enthusiastic leadership of long-time team captains Lani Swart and Tania Mouton, this year's group includes riders from across the United Kingdom and Europe. While each rider has a personal story, they share a motivation: to make a tangible impact by contributing to Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's UK-EU Bursary Fund and the Stutterheim STEM Bursary Fund. Both initiatives unlock access to education for students who might otherwise be left behind.
Why ride?
South Africa's youth face daunting odds: With unemployment hovering around 45%, the chance to graduate debt-free from a top university such as Stellenbosch can mean the difference between stagnation and success. Each year, more than 500 Matie graduates leave campus with unsecured student debt, which prevents them from accessing their transcripts and taking up job offers. The UK-EU Bursary Fund was specifically created to break this cycle, assisting students with the final push to the finish line.
Take Monique Moore-Barnes, for instance. The proud Matie alumna remembers what it was like to face financial uncertainty during her studies. Today, she holds an MSc and MBA as well as a leadership role at a global pharmaceutical company. To help current students who find themselves in the same financial fix she was in, she will be trading her boardroom seat for a bike saddle on 14 September to raise ?500 for the UK-EU Bursary Fund. “If they can push through to pursue their degrees, I can push through this ride," Monique says.
The power of giving back
Each rider brings something unique to the team. Roxine Staats, who hails from the Eastern Cape, is riding to raise funds for the Stutterheim STEM Bursary Fund, supporting young women in rural areas who dream of becoming engineers and scientists. Fellow rider Karien Botha co-founded the bursary fund, inspired by her roots as a native of the Eastern Cape town of Stutterheim, and a commitment to closing the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Cally Ballck-Naudé??has already exceeded her original ?300 target and has raised her goal to ?500. “Education is the great equaliser," she says. “This ride is a small effort to help level the playing field."
Robert Watkins, in turn, is taking on the ride with memories of the #FeesMustFall protests and the resilience that his time at Stellenbosch instilled in him. Now an engineer working across the United Kingdom and Singapore, he is cycling to give back to the university that shaped him.
Arnold Marambire, joining the event for the first time, hopes not only to raise funds, but also to encourage his peers to find ways to support causes they care about. “This is my small contribution, but together, we can make a huge difference," he says.
Captain Lani leads by example with a personal goal of ?1 000. “Every year, we face the dreaded Ditchling Beacon – and somehow, we conquer it together," she laughs. “It's a reminder that big obstacles can be overcome when we ride with purpose."
Here's how you can help
Whether it's ?5 or ?500, your donation helps clear the final hurdle for a student who has worked incredibly hard to succeed. And if you're a United Kingdom taxpayer, do not forget to activate Gift Aid – an easy way to add 25% to your donation at no extra cost.
Please get involved by:
- donating to a rider's fundraising page (see box below for KindLink details) – every pound makes a difference;
- sharing the riders' stories with your network; and
- cheering them on as they power through from London to Brighton on 14 September.
Let's help our Maties cross the finish line – both on the road and in their mission to open doors for the next generation of South African graduates. Support the ride. Transform a future.
To donate, the riders' KindLink pages are available by clicking on the relevant name below:
