In 2013, for the first time, Qhubeka offered charity bond entries for the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. 130 cyclists chose to ride for us and they managed to raise an impressive R351 000, which will fund 175 bicycles. To motivate our fantastic fundraisers, Gaerne, official shoe sponsor of Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung, offered a pair of cycling shoes worth more than R4 000 to the person who raised the highest amount.
Stuart Gower-Jackson raised R35 300 with the assistance of his company Jeffares and Green. He decided to give the Gaerne shoes to his wife, Samantha, as a gift. It was arranged that this would happen at a surprise handover on her 30th birthday at Fourways Cycle Lab. She was led to believe she was just going shopping, but when they arrived, a delighted Samantha received a pair of Gaerne shoes, as you can see in the photo at the top of this post of Stuart and Samantha with Lenelia Fourie from Gaerne and James Louter from Qhubeka.
“This is definitely one of the best presents I’ve received,” Samantha says. “The Gaerne shoe is amazing. I never thought I’d be riding in such good quality shoes. It was an honour to ride for Qhubeka,. It is a brilliant non-profit project that is all about how people’s lives can be changed with bicycles.”
Stuart and Samantha rode the 94.7 on a tandem bicycle. “We rode 94.7 in the Qhubeka kit,” says Stuart. “We’re fortunate enough to do all sorts of different races and this year has definitely been about raising funds and doing something more than just riding. My company, Jeffares and Green, was very supportive. They sponsored 17 bicycles for the cause and my wife and I also donated a bicycle instead of buying family Christmas presents. I look forward to supporting Qhubeka more in 2014.”
Lenelia Fourie of Gaerne says, “Congratulations to Samantha on winning a pair of Kobra Gaerne MTB shoes – a world-class shoe as worn by Gerald Ciolek (Team MTN-Qhubeka, winner of Milan Sanremo), Jan Bakelants (Team RadioShack Leopard Trek, Tour de France Yellow jersey wearer) and world famous Fabian Cancellara.”
Another Qhubeka 94.7 fundraiser who’s smiling is Stuart Rawlinson, pictured below with his new Trek Madone bicycle. Stuart made the highest bid for the bicycle at the 94.7 gala dinner at R66 000. The Trek Madone was the bicycle used by Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung during the 2013 season, and the model that Gerald Ciolek rode to victory at Milan Sanremo.
“The generosity of our supporters who got behind us and rode for Qhubeka at the 94.7 was fabulous,” says Anthoyn Fitzhenry, Qhubeka Director. “With their help, we will be able to mobilise 175 people with bicycles through our earn-to-ride programmes, where recipients get a bicycle in exchange for work down to improve the environment or academic results. It’s incredible that through the generosity of 130 people riding bicycles, another 175 other people will get to own a bicycle.”
If you’d like to fundraise for Qhubeka, or purchase a charity bond entry for the Pick n Pay Argus Cycle Tour, email info@qhubeka.org.
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