The JackalBerry Challenge was founded in 2011 and has since raised enough funds to build new classrooms and ablution facilities for a rural school!
The JackalBerry Challenge was started by 8 friends in 2011, they decided to Mountain Bike for two days from Bronkhorstspruit to Machadodorp. The entire idea was sparked by a simple dare!
Since 2012 the JackalBerry Challenge has raised over R850K. The group decided to make it a fundraising ride instead of a bike race. They chose the Ubuhle Christian School in Bronkhorstspruit as their beneficiary for all funds raised.
“As 4PL, we are heavily involved in the local community around the Ubuhle Christian School, and so decided at the outset, it would be the sole beneficiary of funds raised from the challenge. It has been amazing to see the difference the event has made in the lives of these children, from actual classrooms and bathrooms being built, and furniture and educational materials purchased, to the quality of education they now have access to.”
“Over and above this, the race has made a difference in our lives as the riders too. It’s a journey of self-discovery – a life-changing event in which you become emotionally invested. When you hit a wall tackling those big hills on the route, it’s the kids you think about; it’s their desperate situation that makes you push yourself that little bit harder to pull through, resulting in a profound sense of achievement.” – Brendan Pearson, 4PL Group CEO
The ride is an invitation only event and see’s around 50 riders take part in the grueling race over two days. They cover 280 Kilometers and some seriously big hills!
There are two big climbs on the first leg – the Malkop Hotspot (distance 8.1km and ascent 196m) and after lunch at Loskop, the Freddie Kruger Hotspot (distance 10.4km and ascent 331m).
On day two the riders leave Middleburg early as they push on towards Machadodorp on the 103km-long second leg. Another two big climbs await riders here, firstly Pineapple Hotspot (distance 6.5km and ascent 274m) and after lunch at Belfast, the notorious Mount Everest (distance 2.1km and ascent of 120m).
Each rider is responsible for raising their own portion of funds to be donated to the school. The goal for 2017 is R350 000! You can see exactly what the riders got up to at their 2016 event below.
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