A moment we can all be proud of ....

Earlier this year Christoph partnered with South African rider Burry Stander in The Cape Epic, a gruelling 950km MTB Stage Race from Knysna to Cape Town. It was more than just a mountain bike race for Burry, Christoph and the team. In the background a major fundraising effort was underway in partnership with the Jag Foundation and under the name SONGO, which would change the childhood of many young under privileged children. So how did all of this happen?

In December 2007, on his annual training pilgrimage to Stellenbosch, South Africa, Christoph during a dinner one evening in conversation with Ruth Bird, Erica Green and a little man called Songo, who Christoph was just introduced to, had the brain wave to do something special for South Africa and especially the area of Stellenbosch, an area Christoph has adopted as a second home since his first training visit there in 1997. The idea was to do something unique for the local kids. Erica mentioned how they were trying to build a BMX Track for the kids of Kayamandi, the township in Stellenbosch and so the seeds were sown: “let’s build this BMX track”.

It was quickly identified that a charitable foundation was needed in order to link the charity to. Enter Elana Meyer. Elana is well known to Christoph and the team for many years. Elana, a Stellenbosch local, an Olympic Medallist and multiple world record holder in track & field and road running retired a few years ago and following her career, became involved in the Jag Foundation, a foundation created with a goal of changing the lives of young kids in South Africa through sport. The Jag Foundation became the official charitable organisation

Who is Songo? Songo is a gentleman from the township who has been trying to make a difference in Kayamandi for many years. When Elana Meyer was at her best there was always this little kid by track side watching her train, carrying her water bottles and being one of her biggest supporters. This was how Elana came to know the boy Songo. As Songo grew, so did his appetite to make a difference in his local community and when Elana retired, their relationship started to blossom as Songo and Elana collectively worked to make a difference for the under privileged kids.

So with the Christoph on board and the Jag Foundation involved, all the charity needed was a name ….. what better name than “Songo”.

Fast forward five months to present time, the BMX track has been completed and from the photo below you can see kids doing sport – that’s what counts.

Please stay tuned for more, as the next plans are already in discussion. We would like to thank everybody who contributed to the success that is “buy a kilometre – build a BMX track”.

Songo, wearing the Specialized Jersey, with the kids of Kayamandi, Stellenbosch