FNB Wines2Whales
Curro Sponsors Scholarship for Exxaro Team Winners
Press Release / 25.10.2019
Having made its debut in the FNB Wines2Whales in 2018, the Exxaro jersey, for riders under the age of 26 from historically disadvantaged communities, expanded its life-changing reach. The category inspires riders to train and race for two major goals in the mountain biking season and rewards riders with financial prizes. In 2019 Curro Holdings has collaborated with Exxaro as a prize sponsor and is arguably offering the largest ever prize to be awarded at a mountain biking race to the FNB Wines2Whales Exxaro jersey winners.
The prize is a full bursary, for two learners, to a Curro school; covering their education from Grade 1 to Grade 12. As the Exxaro jersey riders have passed school-going age, they will be able to nominate a family member to receive the bursary. This prize, which has a current value of R1,2 million each (excluding inflation over the next 12 years), will undoubtedly be truly life-changing for two children from historically disadvantaged areas. No financial figure can adequately put a value to the benefit of education.
‘Curro Holdings is thrilled to be involved in FNB Wines2Whales. The organisers state that this adventurous event is more about the journey than the destination and we’ve spotted great synergy in this message,' said Marí Lategan, Executive: Marketing and Communications, at Curro Holdings. ‘As the biggest independent education provider in South Africa, we aim to widen access to quality schooling. We know that an enriched education journey will translate into a bright future – life’s ultimate destination. At Curro we look forward to growing our relationship with FNB Wines2Whales and we will certainly help add #SeriousGEES.’
‘As a mountain bike race, we aim to inspire people to live healthier, more active lifestyles,' Michael Flinn, Managing Director of FNB Wines2Whales, stated. ‘Curro’s generous prize to the wining Exxaro jersey competition team, is a first for us. It will change the lives of two young people and unquestionably the lives of their families. Education goes so far beyond sport in general and mountain biking in particular that it is rather humbling for us as an event to be able to facilitate such generosity. I can only hope that Curro’s lead will be followed by individuals and other corporates taking part in the race and that we can expand on the real, life-changing, benefits to people from historically disadvantaged communities.’
The Exxaro jersey will be contested in the Shiraz event of the FNB Wines2Whales, which gets underway from Lourensford Wine Estate, on Friday, 1 November 2019. Of the 30 development teams taking part, 19 qualified for the Exxaro category and the competition is sure to be fierce for the title. Defending champions, BMT Fairtree, return with the added experience of having raced the Swiss Epic in Graubünden during August. As such Luyanda Thobigunya and his partner from the Swiss Epic, Zola Ngxakeni, are among the favourites.
They will be up against two teams from the FNB Change a Life Academy. Bongumusa Zikhali and Sipho Kupiso are the KwaZulu-Natal-based designated first team, with Nkululeko Pewa and Nhlanhla Mthembu also representing Martin Dreyer’s charity. Exxaro has six squads contesting for the jersey which they sponsor. The twelve riders are all members of the Exxaro Development Academy and are co-sponsored by PWC, Rand Merchant Bank, Pepto and Deloitte.
Lucky Mlangeni is the winner of the Exxaro jersey on the 2019 Cape Epic Exxaro roster. He will start the FNB Wines2Whales alongside Anrique Davids; as his partner from earlier in the year, Tshepo Tlou, is racing in another Exxaro Development Academy team.
Other teams taking part in the race include three squads from the McGregor MTB Warriors, a FXTM-Velokhaya combination, Bhoni4Kasi, two Kinetic Racing Snakes teams, Khalthsa Cycles and an all-women’s team. Neo Setlhare and Zile Tshongolo have dubbed their team Sister Soweto, though they too form part of the Bhoni4Kasi Cycling Academy.
With Curro ensuring the Exxaro jersey teams will be competing for a life-changing prize, the competition is sure to be intense throughout the three days. To follow the racing action, tune in on Twitter, @w2wmtb, from 07:00 on the morning of Friday, 1 November 2019.
About Curro
Curro Holdings is the biggest JSE-listed independent school operator in South Africa, offering quality education to learners from the early childhood development phase to Grade 12. The group strives to contribute towards the sustainable growth of South Africa and beyond, by widening access to quality schooling across a spectrum of education models. These include Curro Schools, Curro Select Schools, Curro Academy Schools, Meridian Schools, Curro Castle Nursery Schools, Curro DigiEd Schools, Curro Private College and Curro Assisted Learning. Curro Holdings provides a values-based environment, and offers a balanced, innovative and relevant curriculum across the various schooling models. The group is currently continuing with their expansion strategy. For more information, visit www.curro.co.za.
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