By Réhann Coetzee
Proudly Meerkat raises funds with Kisboude Ride
Proudly Meerkat raises funds with Kisboude Ride
Proudly Meerkat is a group originally created on Facebook and headed by Henri du Toit, an adventure biking enthusiast.
“It started as a bit of a joke because other bikers call us adventure bike riders meerkats because we tend to stand and ride – like meerkats,” he says.
“The group was created for all adventure bike riders who love to ‘meerkat’ and share the same passion for riding and enjoying the outdoors. We run regular events and outrides in various areas.”
Proudly Meerkat shows that adventure bikers are also all heart and regularly run fund-raising events, especially for the Gracia children’s in the north of Pretoria. One of the fund-raisers is an annual 1 000km ride on a Saturday, called the Kisboude.
“We call it Kisboude, because 1 000km in one day does take its toll on your behind,” explains Henri.
The sixth annual Kisboude Ride was recently held and this scenic route ran from Pretoria to Hazyview and back. A first for the Kisboude this year, however, was the unexpected rain.
“That definitely made it harder! It is still winter, so you do expect some sacrifice. You have to get up early and leave before dawn, so you know it’s going to be chilly. But the rain caught us unawares and nine of the bikes turned around at Belfast because of this.
“Visibility wasn’t great and we had to ride slower to keep it safe and also shortened the route a little, but 35 bikes – with five pillions – completed the shortened 920km trip,” says Henri.
The lunch stop was at Little Pilgrims Boutique Hotel in Hazyview where a hearty lunch warmed up the riders and their pillions.
“From the entry fee we raised R6 000 that went to the Gracia Children’s Home. And because TRAC sponsored our tolls on the route, the riders contributed cash over lunch and Willem Fick Jnr, manager of Little Pilgrims, also added R1 000 to the pot. That enabled us to contribute about another R6 000 towards the Ebenhaeser Children’s Home, also in Pretoria.
“We meerkat, because we can. And we also give because we can.”