A Stellenbosch University (SU) student’s cycling fundraiser has raised approximately R31 800 to help students settle their historic debt.
This was according to Sarah Camp, a sixth year bachelor of medicine and surgery student at SU. Camp cycled around 1 500 kilometres (km) in 10 days to raise money for Action4Inclusion, an initiative that aims to help students with debt continue studying and graduate, she said.
The fundraiser started on 26 October, when Camp began her 10-day-long cycling journey that ended on 4 November, she stated. Camp has surpassed her original goal of raising R10 000 by the end of her trip, she added.
Sarah Camp [pictured above] cycled 1 500 kilometres to raise money for Action4Inclusion, an initiative that was developed to help students with debt continue studying and graduate, she said. PHOTO: Supplied/Sarah Camp
Camp’s cross-country cycling
Camp cycled from the SU Medical Campus in Worcester to her hometown of Hillcrest, Kwa-Zulu Natal, she explained. The main purpose of the cycling was to raise awareness for Action4Inclusion and encourage people to donate to the fundraiser on GivenGain, Camp added.
Camp cycled around 150 km a day, she said. “It’s long days. So you sort of, you start at six in the morning […] and then you finish sort of five or six [in the evening] most days,” said Camp.
Sarah Camp cycled around 1500 kilometres from the Stellenbosch University Worcester campus to her hometown Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, she explained. Camp cycled around 150 km a day. GRAPHIC: Hannah Theron
The cycling fundraiser was inspired by prof Thuli Madonsela’s Pilgrimage of Hope, where Madonsela walked 300 km to raise money for Action4Inclusion, stated Camp.
“I thought that if she [Madonsela] can do something like that […] then I should also be doing something like that. I mean, I am a student. These are my classmates,” said Camp.
Most students do not have the resources to host massive fundraisers but “you know, any old person can ride a bicycle”, said Camp.
“In terms of the cycling, I’ve really enjoyed kind of watching the landscape change very slowly from the winelands and then to the Karoo,” said Sarah Camp, a sixth year bachelor of medicine and surgery student at Stellenbosch University, who cycled 1 500 km to raise money for students with historic debt. PHOTO: Supplied/Sarah Camp
What is historic debt?
“Student debt is a real problem for a lot of my fellow classmates. […] Sarah’s cycling trip is aiming to raise important awareness and funds for this issue,” said Bianca Tout, a sixth year bachelor of medicine and surgery student at SU, who is driving alongside Camp as she cycles.
Many undergraduates accumulate historic debt due to financial challenges which result in students being unable to continue paying tuition fees, said S’thabile Duma, an Action4Inclusion ambassador.
Historic debt hinders students’ ability to find work after university as they cannot receive their qualification certificate due to the debt, according to Duma. Without employment, students are unable to pay off their debt, she added.
“Camp’s cycling fundraiser is one that is very admirable,” said Duma. Camp is setting an example for all students to show empathy and take proactive steps to help fellow students in need, added Duma.
Sarah Camp, a sixth year bachelor of medicine and surgery student at Stellenbosch University, discusses her 1 500 kilometre cycling fundraiser. VIDEO: Hannah Theron