Cycle enthusiast Cyril Lepelletier has completed a grueling 277km charity cycle challenge in South Africa, to help raise funds for a local school.

Cyril, (49), a European sales manager at Capital Refractories, was one of over 50 cyclists who took part in the two-day JackalBerry Mountain Bike Cycle Challenge in November.

The annual event aims to raise funds and awareness for the non-profit Ubuhle Christian School in Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa. This cycle challenge has not only changed the lives of the riders but also the lives of the neglected children living with farmworkers, on the farms surrounding Bronkhorstspruit.

The school is for children from Grades 1 to 7 and also caters for children with barriers-to-learning. There is very limited office space since every available room is used for a classroom. Fifty more learners arrived on the first day of school than what registered for this year, and they now cater for 275 learners.
Since the JackalBerry Mountain Bike Cycle Challenge began eight years ago it has raised thousands to benefit the school. Last year funds donated through the challenge enabled a new classroom to be built and new equipment to be provided. Seven classrooms have been built during the last eight years.

The goal of the 2019 challenge was to raise R385,000 (over £19,500) in sponsorship to build a new reception and administration building with furniture and equipment. This target has already been smashed with R650,000 being raised so far (over £33,700), 171% of the target.

To help Cyril get in gear for the challenge, which started at the school in Bronkhorstspruit and ended at the JackalBerry Farm in Machadodorp, Capital Refractories sponsored him and provided water bottles for participants. A welcome addition as riders faced sweltering temperatures along the undulating route which climbed to 3,200m altitude.

After completing the challenge Cyril said: “To take on the challenge was tough, but the cause helped me, and I’m sure everyone else, to achieve the best we could.

“Thank you so much to the JB team for looking after us and thank you for letting me take on this challenge as the first foreigner – I will always be grateful. Finally thank you to James Newsome, MD at Capital Refractories who supported this challenge from the off.”

Pictures courtesy of Mandie Herbst, Melanie Prinsloo and Cyril Lepelletier.