By Vuyiswa Mabila
MBABANE– The Border to Border Cycling Race Tour has long been celebrated as a sporting event that draws cyclists from all over the region and internationally but beyond the race, it’s the heart of the Border to Border cycle tour that truly stands out. Every year, after the final pedal is pushed and the last medal awarded, the association shifts its focus from sport to service, demonstrating a deep commitment to giving back to the community.
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Alphsz, the cycle tour is not only able to host and fund the race itself but also reinvest in the lives of the people in the regions it touches. One of the key ways the association supports the community is by providing help to three soup kitchens in Lavumisa. These kitchens serve as vital lifelines for those in need, offering warm meals and hope to many individuals and families.
Speaking to a launch at Alphsz offices Mcolisi Shongwe said that they are giving back to the community in the sense that they are impacting three soup kitchens at Lavumisa. And they are also practising social inclusion. “We have impacted three soup kitchens at Lavumisa in the past years and we still doing it this year. Also this year we have got disabled participants which is the first of its kind in our tour this year.” Said Shongwe.
In addition to this humanitarian support, the tour also plays an active role in promoting local economic development. It does so by sourcing food from local businesses to feed race participants once the tour concludes. This approach allows small vendors to showcase their products and earn income, strengthening the local economy and encouraging entrepreneurship.
” The tour is also a way of improving local businesses as we encourage local business to also participate through selling their products ” he added.
The Border to Border cycle tour’s efforts are a reminder that the impact of sport can extend far beyond the track. By channeling the energy and attention from the annual cycling tour into tangible community benefits, the association exemplifies how organizations can be agents of positive change.
Whether it’s through feeding the hungry or uplifting local entrepreneurs, the Border to Border cycle tour continues to prove that giving back is just as important as moving forward.
