BEN official partner of The Cape Epic

BEN, the Bicycle Empowerment Network, and The Cape Epic have once again joined forces to demonstrate their commitment towards the community during the most televised and logistically challenging mountain bike stage race in the world. BEN was The Cape Epic’s first formal partner in 2003, and the association is still proving to be both mutually beneficial and rewarding.

The Cape Epic and BEN have worked together not only on The Cape Epic but have also worked together to send the first ever black African team to the adidas Bike TransAlp challenge in July 2003. They have also sponsored previously disadvantaged riders to participate in The Cape Epic.

The Bicycling Empowerment Network has been active in Cape Town for 4 years; their aim is to promote the use of bicycles in order to address low-cost mobility, health, access to opportunities which would otherwise be inaccessible, including employment, skills and education. They show people of all ages who are constantly exposed to violence and crime that there are other options. Along the way they have changed most kids existing opinion of cycling as an ‘uncool’ mode of transport while at the same time helping to assist local government in developing more cycling lanes and storage facilities for bike riders.

They are partnered by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) on The Cape Epic. At last year’s Epic they gave out 6 bikes at each of the 9 stage locations, totaling 54 bikes donated to the communities, each of which was sponsored by one of the corporate teams that had entered the race. 2006 hopes to see a 33% increase in the amount of bikes sponsored, which in turn will mean a 33% increase in the number of bikes donated to the communities.

Kevin Vermaak, The Cape Epic Founder and Director, said “The idea behind the programme is to keep increasing the number each year. With the involvement and help of more corporates, both locally and internationally, this initiative is one that will grow each year and as such so will the benefit to the towns that are generous enough to donate their services to help make The Cape Epic what it is.”