SOUTH AFRICA (October 2015) – 18 Daring cyclists completed the first Pink Trees for Pauline Vallei tot Vallei Cycle Tour 2015 on 23 September 2015 in Franschhoek at Anthonij Rupert Wines. The pathway leading up to the estate, walled by breathtakingly beautiful trees meticulously wrapped in pink material, was a welcoming sight indeed. Vince Lombardi said “Individual commitment to a group effort–that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” And that is what made this tour an enormously successful production. From the cyclists, crew, support team, sponsors, family and friends following their progress…it all came together in a magnificent symphony!
The Pink Trees for Pauline Vallei tot Vallei Cycle Tour 2015 started in Wilderness in the Garden Route and ended in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands District. The aim of this first of its kind cycle tour was to raise awareness for Pink Trees for Pauline and the needs of the cancer communities of South Africa. Along this challenging route there were moments that the cyclists couldn’t help but to stop and take it all in. The Bainskloof Pass and the Tradouw Pass were certainly the most challenging and most picturesque. On the first day cyclists were tested early on in the day when they stopped for lunch at the Pinnacle Golf Resort. To get to the delicious food and beautiful greens, the vista and blue waters of the Indian Ocean they had to conquer the pinnacle of all hills. A sweet promise of what lay ahead for the next 4 days…
With the first day under the belt the first stop-over was in Riversdale at the foot of the Sleeping Beauty Mountain. On the second day the community of Montagu welcomed the cyclists with open hearts. Maretha Jordaan of Montagu even went as far as to raise funds for the cycle tour. They were treated to a spit braai dinner at the KWV Building in Montagu to celebrate tourism month. None other than the Clover Mama Africa team made the traditional roosterkoek that accompanied the spit braai. The stop at Fairview Estate near Paarl on day four was a first for most of the cyclists and a refreshing experience after they conquered Bainskloof Pass.
Anthonij Rupert Wines just stopped short of rolling out the red carpet for the 18 Pink Trees for Pauline super heroes. After freshening up they were welcomed on the sweeping cool lawns with sundowners and horse de ’oeuvres. Anthonij Rupert Wines also announced that 10% of the sales of their new Protea Rosé, with its blush pink hue, will go towards Pink Trees for Pauline. Amidst all the excitement, thank you’s and a medal ceremony it was time to say “See you next year”.
Without the financial support of the sponsors the Vallei tot Vallei Cycle Tour 2015 would have stayed a dream. The 18 cyclists not only pedalled 529km for a charitable organisation, they also raised additional funds for Pink Trees for Pauline on top of their own entry fees! Protea Hotels was one of the major sponsors of Pink Trees for Pauline during the 2014 project. The Pink Trees for Pauline Vallei tot Vallei Cycle Tour had substantial backing from the hotel group during this year’s tour. When Lynn Schroeder Motors from George heard that there was a need for support vehicles they committed to supply a BMW motorcycle and BMW vehicles for the duration of the tour. Jakes and Leoni Jacobs, pledged their company, Outeniqua Plastics’ support to the Pink Trees for Pauline Vallei tot Vallei Cycle Tour and they were even at the start to see the cyclists off. John Ross Recruitment Agency in Uitenhage topped their sponsorship by also turning their premises pink! Roche Pharmaceutical Company and Tsogo Sun were also sponsors and supported the tour whole-heartedly.
Pico Iyer said “The beauty of any first time is that it leads to a thousand others…” The first Pink Trees for Pauline Vallei tot Vallei Cycle Tour 2015 is an inspirational promise of what is to come in 2016!
For more information about the 2015 Pink Trees for Pauline Vallei tot Vallei Cycle Tour please email mimi@gojipr.net. For more information about Pink Trees for Pauline visit www.pinktrees.co.za and for the latest news visit the Pink Trees for Pauline Facebook page. Adri Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen can be contacted on adri@pinktrees.co.za.
For more information:
Pink Trees for Pauline – www.pinktrees.co.za
Cancer Alliance – www.canceralliance.co.za
CANSA Helpline – 0800 22 66 22
Childhood Cancer – Choc 086 111 3500
Mount Hope Hospice – 044-8734714
Anthonij Rupert Wines – www.rupertwines.com
Lynn Schroeder Motors – www.bmw-lynnschroedermotors.co.za
Lynn Schroeder Motorcycles – www.bmw-lynnschroedermotorcycles.co.za
Protea Hotels – www.proteahotels.com
John Ross Recruitment – www.jrrecruitment.co.za
Roche Pharmaceuticals – www.roche.co.za
Tsogo Sun Hotels – www.tsogosunhotels.com
