If you saw a unicyclist grinding through the Cape Town Cycle Tour this past weekend, just know you saw a legend on the move. Gidian Jacobs undertook the full length of the tour lone-wheel! Along with other Team SPCA cyclists, his efforts helped raise over half a million rand for animal welfare.
Cape Town, South Africa (12 March 2025) — There was a unique participant in the Cape Town Cycle Tour last weekend—a teen named Gidian Jacobs who, lone-wheel, trekked the tour in the name of animal welfare. Unicyclist Gidian pushed through 109km the unconventional way, ultimately helping Team SPCA raise over half a million rand for animal welfare!
Gidian’s reason for tackling the tough race was shared by numerous other cyclists making up Team SPCA. All of them understood the assignment—chains belong on bikes, not animals—and all of them played a huge role in raising a sweet tune of R565,959.79.
Some undertook the effort on a tandem bike, like Kendal Krober and Diederick Kruisinga. Others like Amy Hopkins and Bernard Bravenboer rocked costumes. Regardless of how they moved through the race, each shared the same vision—a South Africa free from animal suffering and a South Africa where no animal is chained.
Gidian’s choice of cycling equipment was a big talking point for those taking part in the race as well as those cheering the cyclists on. Many could only imagine how much tougher it might be to unicycle one’s way through the already challenging race.
The unicyclist said that the race was “certainly a challenge”.
“But it’s just a few hours of discomfort in hopes of sparing an animal from a lifetime of suffering,” Gidian added.
Gidian finished the race in six hours and four minutes.
As for the collective effort of the SPCA team, the team was blown away.
“R565,959.79 means real dogs, in real pain, are getting real freedom. Every cyclist, every donor, every cheer from the side-lines—made this a winning event. The entire SPCA family, two-legged and four-legged, is beyond grateful,” beamed Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham.
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