A five-day cycling challenge from Johannesburg to Durban raised over R300,000 while supporting a range of life-changing causes.
Johannesburg, South Africa (18 May 2026) – Somewhere between the long National roads, steep climbs and exhausted legs, Rheunert Burger says the journey stopped being about cycling.
Over five days, Rheunert and a group of riders travelled more than 700 kilometres from Johannesburg to Durban as part of the Envestpro Changing Lives Foundation’s annual fundraising ride. Together, they raised more than R300,000 for various charitable causes, but for Rheunert, the experience was shaped less by numbers and more by the people connected to them.
“This is now the fourth year that we’ve done this adventure. When you’ve done it a few times, you kind of know what’s coming. But it’s not a race to see how fast you get through it. It’s a tour. It’s about experiencing the journey.”
Cycling through parts of the Free State and areas such as the Golden Gate Highlands National Park gave riders the chance to experience South Africa from a completely different perspective.
“The Free State looks very different on a bicycle versus in a car. It’s hard and you’re tired at the end of every day, but the next day is amazing again. By the time you reach Durban, you realise you’ve ridden from one end of the country to the other. It’s a very cool feeling.”
Through the Envestpro Changing Lives Foundation Cycle Challenge 2026: Dare2Care, riders are encouraged to raise funds for causes close to their hearts. Some support animal welfare organisations, while others raise funds for individuals facing serious medical challenges.
Rheunert shared that one rider was cycling to support a woman recovering from a stroke, while another family was raising funds for a young man currently in the ICU.
“We try to tap into what’s important to each rider. Everyone has their own personal story and reason for taking on the journey.”
What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that some participants had only started cycling a few months before the trip. Beyond the ride itself, the foundation also hosts creative fundraising initiatives throughout the year, including auctions where supporters donate handmade or personal items to help raise money.
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Reflecting on the broader impact of the initiative, Rheunert believes the experience has highlighted just how powerful community support can be.
“We’re able to support people who genuinely need help,” he said. “There’s a lady who’s going blind and still needs funds for an operation. There’s a paramedic studying further. There are so many people whose lives can be changed through this.”
“And all I had to do was get on a bicycle and ride from Joburg to Durban.”
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