Help Me Pedal with Purpose!

Hello, I’m Hercules Wessels – Matie, proud alumnus of Stellenbosch University, and a man with a bicycle and a dream (and let’s be honest, slightly questionable Lycra fashion choices). On 14 September 2025, I’ll be cycling the London to Brighton route – that’s 55 miles or 88 kilometres for my fellow South Africans – as part of the London to Brighton Cycle Ride. Why, you ask? Because apparently midlife crises now involve spandex and hills. But more importantly, I’m doing it to raise funds for something close to my heart: the UK-EU Bursary Fund at Stellenbosch University. This special fund helps academically brilliant students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds get over the finish line – not on a bicycle, but through their studies, so that when they graduate, they do so debt-free, with their degrees and transcripts in hand, ready to enter their chosen professions. Think about it: a talented student, full of potential, who’s put in the hours, written the exams, passed with flying colours – only to be stuck waiting for a piece of paper they can't afford. The UK-EU Bursary Fund changes that. It gives them the final push – just like I’ll need on Ditchling Beacon (Google it. It's a beast). So, I’m appealing to you – fellow alumni, friends, kind-hearted strangers – to support me in this ride. Not just for my personal pride or because I have something to prove to my teenage kids (I do), but because every pound you donate goes directly to a student’s future. Help me turn a 55-mile slog into something that has real impact. Sponsor me. Encourage me. Pray for my knees. And together, let’s make sure more Maties cross their finish line with dignity, a degree, and the freedom to start life without the weight of debt. Let’s ride for a reason.