Organisers of the Great Zuurberg Trek, which took place from the Zuurberg Mountain Village at Addo, have adopted a policy of paying it forward by using the iconic Eastern Cape mountain bike race to help broaden the development of the sport in South Africa.
Race owner Trevor Hayter said their focus at the GZT has always gone beyond the racing aspect, with genuine efforts to give back to the local community at the top of their agenda.
“Our objectives include the upliftment of the community and to this end we have played a leading role in the development of a private school, the acquisition of two buses as well as many other projects focused on education and health,” he said. “One bus is used to transport children to extra-curricular activities while the second, named Kids in Conservation, takes children to the Addo Elephant National Park where Sanparks rangers teach them about nature conservation.”
Hayter said they worked closely with the Sundays River Citrus Company Foundation and Engeli – both race partners – to raise capital as “one cannot have a material impact without finances”.
