Tru-Cape Ceres growers and Pink Lady® apples are epic winners
Hannes Hanekom riding The Epic with Tru-Cape and Pink Lady® support.
Tru-Cape’s Ceres-based apple and pear growers, brothers Hannes and Sakkie Hanekom, not only completed the Cape Epic Challenge amongst the top times for amateurs, but were also in the orchards picking fruit at sunrise the following morning after raising R22, 400 for charity.
Tru-Cape’s Managing Director Roelf Pienaar, says the Hanekom’s achievement epitomises what the Tru-Cape brand stands for: living the healthy lifestyle in touch with nature.
The brothers came 36th overall and 30th in the Men’s Division. Their Top 40 finish means that co-sponsor Pink Lady® boosts the R8/km sponsorship to R10, 000 to go to the Tygerberg Hospital Breast Cancer Transport Fund. Added to this other sponsors have boosted the funds raised by a further R12 400 making the total raised R22 400.
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest marketer and distributor of South African apples and pears and Pink Lady®, one of the brands in Tru-Cape’s basket, sponsored the Hanekom’s entry in the Cape Epic Race.
Conrad Fick, Tru-Cape’s Marketing Director, explains: “We have a strict sponsorship policy to only support events that contribute to a healthier lifestyle and are situated in our grower areas of Ceres, Elgin, Grabouw and Villiersdorp Valleys and in the Langkloof so this event meets all these criteria. However, the fact that it features two of our growers and raises money to support the Tygerberg Hospital Breast Fund Cancer Transport Fund, really makes our hearts happy.”
“We at Pink Lady® apples are committed to raising funds every year for the the Tygerberg Hospital Breast Clinic Transport Fund because being diagnosed with Breast Cancer and mustering up the courage to fight the disease is one thing in itself, not being able to go for your treatment because you do not have the funds to cover the cost of transport is another challenge in itself,” commented Liza Matthews, Marketing Manager for Pink Lady® apples. “The Transport Fund was initiated to help those who cannot afford the transport cost to and from the clinic for their treatments by supplying the necessary financial assistance for patients. It is such a wonderful opportunity sponsoring Hannes and Sakkie in the Epic to raise further money for the fund,” added Matthews.
“The route took the Epic riders onto the team’s farm, Welgemeen, using the trails that Hannes and Sakkie had developed and built themselves over the years. This made the 100th stage a very special occasion for our team. If you would like to join us in this sponsorship initiative to raise funds for the Tygerberg Hospital Breast Clinic Transport Fund please contact Liza Matthews on 073 147 4725 or lizam@topfruit.co.za.” she ends.
