Rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), prof Wim de Villiers and a team of 60 staff members, alumni and students joined to raise funds in support of the #Move4Food campaign in the Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCT), last weekend.
The #Move4Food initiative started in 2018 to create food banks on Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses in an effort to alleviate food insecurity among SU students.
Alongside his son and daughter, Braam and Gera, De Villiers completed his fifth CTCT to raise funds for #Move4Food.
“We had great support from Maties along the way. We started the race in perfect conditions, although it got a bit more difficult towards the end. It was all worth it for a deserving cause,” said De Villiers.
Altogether R44 753 was raised in support of the #Move4Food initiative through the cycle tour. Donations were gathered through cash, SnapScan and peer-to-peer fundraising, said Siyabonga Ndlovu, peer-to-peer fundraising coordinator at SU.
“At the CTCT expo [Maties] alumni and friends of the university came in their numbers to support our students by either donating at our charity stand or buying the alumni cap, cycling supporter t-shirt and cycling shirt. It was wonderful to see how many parents of past, current and future alumni were so proud and bought items as mementos,” said Ndlovu.
First-time CTCT cyclist, Anna-Marie Muller, has made financial contributions towards #Move4Food in the past and intends to participate in the cycle tour again next year for the worthy cause.
“The support from crowds along the way was great, especially when you heard “Go Maties!” along a tough hill. Occasionally other [alumni] cyclists offered some support on the ride,” said Muller.
Two SU staff members will also participate in the next #Move4Food initiative, the Absa Cape Epic, to raise funds to combat food insecurity on SU campuses, said Ndlovu
“Training and preparation for the Cape Epic requires a lot of energy, but it is not as tough as going to class every day, studying until the late hours of the night, and preparing for assignments and tests while not having had a meal,” said Ndlovu.
PHOTO: Facebook/Stellenbosch Alumni