Benefitting Charities
Event History
The King’s Founda0on Botswana
Tour Ya Botswana is a charitable event that is wholly owned by The King’s Founda-on.
Based on Chris-an values, King’s conducts regular sports outreach programmes throughout the country to develop young people’s physical, emo-onal and spiritual capaci-es that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.
Botswana Substance Abuse Support Network
BOSASNet was founded by people who are profoundly concerned about the increasing problem of substance abuse in Botswana. Services provided by BOSASNet include: counselling, rehabilita-on services, presenta-ons, workshops and BOTA accredited training.
Lance Armstrong Founda0on (Livestrong)
Livestrong provides support to guide people through the cancer experience, bring them together to fight cancer -‐ and work for a world in which their fight is no longer necessary.
Since 2007 volunteer riders and support staff linked to The King’s Founda-on in the UK have undertaken annual sponsored bike challenges across the UK, France and Italy, raising significant funds for The King’s Founda-on’s work in Southern Africa. Because of King’s work in Botswana, it was decided that riding bikes across the country would be a great way of inves-ng in the health of the na-on. The hope is that Tour Ya Botswana becomes an annual event that the whole country can be proud of.
Botswana Landlocked Botswana is about the same size as France and somewhat smaller than Texas. Botswana is well known for having some of the best wilderness and wildlife on the African continent. Botswana is truly the Africa of dreams. Because the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River provide a year round water supply, nearly all southern African mammal species are present in Chobe National Park. After taking in the beauty of Chobe, Tour Ya Botswana participants prepared their bikes and started their 6-day journey across Botswana.
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."Â Lance Armstrong
The Department of Wildlife, Botswana Police, JONMOL and MRI provided amazing support alongside a local team of volunteers who served the cyclists with food, water and encouragement for one week.
Team spirit and camaraderie was incredibly strong amongst the participants from Botswana, South Africa, UK and USA. It was inspiring to see strong riders stay back to encourage others; long-term memories and friendships were created.
Participants had opportunities to connect with local communities and see projects of the benefiting charities first hand. Tshekedi Khama, the Tour Ya Botswana patron and Honourable Member of Parliament, enabled a most memorable visit to Serowe.
The Grand Palm provided a spectacular environment to finish the Tour as participants were welcomed home and celebrated by family, friends and the Honourable Kitso Mokaila, Minister of Environment, Wildlife & Tourism. Finally, Tour Ya Botswana ended in style. Energym hosted a most amazing Gala Dinner that included good food, entertainment, speeches and interactive games for participants and guests from many organisations and agencies in Botswana. An auction raised further funds for the benefiting charities, the auction included items donated by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.