The roads of the Western Cape will come alive with a sea of bright orange this month as bikers from around the globe join the Lunchbox Legends Tour in Plettenberg Bay, cycling along the N2 to raise funds for underprivileged local youth.
The event is the brainchild of Lunchbox Theatre, a Plettenberg Bay nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering, uplifting and shaping the future of children in the area.
Organisers are calling on everyone to register and join the tour, or to support the cause through donations.
“The Legends Tour is vital to our work,” Lunchbox Theatre founder Stuart Palmer said.
“As a nonprofit, we rely primarily on the funds raised through this event to keep our shows and after-school programmes alive.
“It’s not just about cycling, it’s about changing lives.
“Every kilometre pedalled helps us bring theatre, education and hope to children who might not otherwise have access to these opportunities.”
Since its launch on the Garden Route in January 2008, Lunchbox Theatre has reached thousands of children, offering character-building programmes and interactive theatrical experiences that foster positive change in attitudes and behaviour towards society, the environment and oneself.
“Our vision is to create a socially and environmentally conscious society where people fulfil their creative potential and live in harmony with each other and the natural world,” Palmer said.
The 2025 Legends Tour, from October 23 to 26, kicks off in De Rust, with cyclists from Plett, Cape Town, and as far afield as Belgium, all sporting Lunchbox Theatre cycling gear.
Over the course of the tour, riders will tackle 100km of rugged terrain and climb more than 2,000m in just two days.
Day one takes participants through the Kammanassie and a private game reserve, while day two sees them conquering the foothills of the mighty Swartberg Mountains.
On day three, the focus shifts from the saddle to school benches as cyclists watch a Lunchbox Theatre show performed for local children, a poignant reminder of why they ride.
Palmer said Lunchbox Theatre aimed to raise awareness of environmental and social issues, promote drama as an educational tool, nurture emerging talent and grow support for the performing arts.
“We want to continue developing Lunchbox Theatre into a renowned professional developmental theatre organisation,” he said.
This year’s tour will see more than 30 riders pedal through the Garden Route and Cape Town, aiming to raise R1.5m to sustain educational shows in schools and after-school programmes for local youth.
While entries for 2025 have closed, those wishing to support the initiative can donate via the official Lunchbox Theatre website.
Every contribution helps keep the theatre’s transformative work alive for children who need it most.
The Herald
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