For 12 days a Somerset West local led a team of very dedicated cyclists across South Africa to take a stand against bullying and child abuse.
For the second year Helderberg businessman Alan Klette led the six-man cycling team that participated in the 2023 Xtreme for Kids Cycle Tour 2023, hosted by Matla A Bana.
The cycle tour is not only hailed as one of the most challenging in South Africa, but also touches the lives of many children in rural areas along the route. The tour departed from Ruimsig Primary School in Johannesburg on Wednesday 1 March, and participants were escorted by a large contingent of police, security and emergency vehicles as well as a group of South African Police Service cyclists. The tour, covering almost 2 000 km, has been an annual fundraising and awareness event for Matla A Bana, a charity founded by ex-hostage Monique Strydom, who helps about 30 000 child victims of sexual abuse annually.
Not only were the cyclists challenged to cycle up to 270 km per day, but they also joined the Matla a Bana school team at schools along the route. This year the project focused strongly on anti-bullying, and Captain Bully Buster (Paarl actor Reagan Reece Carolissen) educated children on the topic, including the types of bullying. More than 5 000 children were reached in Gauteng, the Free State, Eastern Cape and Western Cape over the 12 days. “Many teachers told us that after Covid they saw a hug increase in bullying and it was becoming a pandemic in itself,” said project manager Lizel van Eeden.
Each child received a Bully Buster Badge as well as a Worry Worm (small knitted therapy worm) and a bookmark with tips on how to deal with bullying.
One of the highlights for Klette was the school visit to Nieu Bethesda, a very small rural school in the Eastern Cape with 220 children. The absolute delight on the faces of the children during the show and the dedication of the teachers was inspirational to him.
“It is often the case that small schools in rural areas seldom receive visits from people running such educational programmes,” said Strydom. “That is why this cycle tour and school program is so important.”
Towns such as Welkom, Kroonstad, Graaff Reinet, Uniondale, Riversdale and Roberston were on the list.
On Saturday 11 March the group of six cyclists arrived to a hero’s welcome at the Willowbridge Shopping Centre, where they were met by high ranking police officials.
The funds raised with the tour will be allocated to projects assisting child rape victims. Matla A Bana has implemented various child friendly reporting facilities at SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units in the Western Cape and still supports the units with training of detectives and forensic social workers.
