- A final year medical student cycled 1 500 kilometres from Cape Town to KZN in 10 days.
- Sarah Camp did it to raise funds towards student debt.
- Camp said the generosity of strangers donating to the initiative made the trek worthwhile.
Sarah Camp, a final year medical student at Stellenbosch University, cycled from campus to her hometown in Hillcrest, Durban, in just 10 days to raise more than R30 000 to help students clear their debt.
Camp left the Western Cape at 06:00 on 26 October on her mountain bike and arrived outside her home on Saturday, 3 November, to an array of family members patiently waiting.
“It was the ride of my life. I never envisioned that I would cycle from one province to the next. It was most certainly an experience I will never forget.
“It also gave me a bit of a new perspective on life as I freely cycled with the fresh air and beautiful scenery all around me,” she said.
She recalled cycling more than 1 500 kilometres, while her friend, fellow medical student, Bianca Tout, drove alongside.
Tout, from Limpopo, had the necessary equipment, food and water in the vehicle and never left her friend’s side.
“I appreciate our friendship so much because Bianca didn’t have to do this, but she chose to do this journey with me. She also chose to take a break from classes.
“She was one of my support structures. I remember when cycling uphill, which was a bit difficult, she would slowly drive behind me to make sure I was okay,” said Camp.
READ | SU student cycles 1 500 km, from Worcester to Hillcrest, to assist students with university debt
The doctor-to-be said she completed the journey to raise funds for Action4Inclusion, a student debt alleviation initiative by the university’s Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
“Professor Thuli Madonsela’s effort inspired me to assist students with university debt. Next year, she plans on walking three hundred kilometres to help clear student debt.
“And so, I thought, wow, that’s amazing. I thought, if the professor can do it, then why can’t I.”
Camp said she spoke to her lecturers about cycling, and they granted Tout a few days off to perform the undertaking.
Sarah Camp cycled from Worcester to KZN to raise funds for students who had student debt.
She said the days leading up to the journey were filled with excitement.
“This, for me, was very symbolic because it tells the story of many students who’ve had to leave their birthplace to study in another province to better their lives and eventually make their way back home after completing their studies.
“This idea was merely to assist students where I can and also relieve some tension as exams got underway,” she said.
She said access to education shouldn’t depend on wealth.
Camp said:
In my small way, I wanted to do my bit to help talented young professionals get the start they deserve. Graduation is just around the corner, but for many of my classmates, there is little cause to celebrate, as this marks the start of a long journey towards overcoming student debt.
Camp recalled meeting strangers who cheered her on and were “quite blown away” by the initiative when she stopped to tell them why she was doing it.
She is no stranger to physical endurance and pushing the boundaries – she traversed the 230km Drakensberg Mountain range on foot, paddled the 330km of England’s River Thames in a canoe, and, earlier this year, tackled her first Comrades Marathon.
“I love the outdoors, which is why this cycling initiative was a no-brainer. I would cycle during the day, and depending on where I ended off, we would find resting places, or people would offer us a place to sleep,” Camp added.
While the long road led her up steep hills and tough routes, Camp said she never once felt that her safety was of concern.
“My focus wasn’t on my safety. I think my parents were more concerned about my safety. My main purpose was to get back home and hopefully raise some funds.
“It isn’t a great feeling studying so many years, accumulating debt, and then when one is set to graduate, there is still all this debt hanging in the air,” she said.
READ | SU needs your help to raise R5 million to alleviate student debt
University spokesperson Martin Viljoen said the latest figures, according to their 2022 annual review, showed that 8 966 students owed the university R322 million in student fees.
“This includes historical debt (students from previous years of study),” said Viljoen.
Sarah Camp cycled 1 500 kilometres from Cape Town to KZN in 10 days. Photo: Supplied
Sarah and her dad Steve.
Sarah and her dad Steve Camp.
In ending her journey, Camp recalled a special moment of arriving in KZN.
“My family has a farm in the Ixopo town, so when I got to the province, I spent the night there before cycling home the following day, which would take me the last five hours.
“What was special about these last few hours was that my dad, Steve, drove to the farm, a few hours from our home, to do the last stretch of the journey with me. I didn’t expect him to do that, but it was such a proud, special dad-and-daughter moment for us,” Camp said.
The bubbly student said, while taking a break from cycling for now, she’s grateful to the many who donated to the cause.
Initially, I thought to myself, ‘why the heck did I do this?’. But it’s been rewarding to see the strangers who decided to donate. So, I don’t regret it at all.
Plans for the future
Camp said, now that her exams were done, she was waiting for placements from the health department to start her medical internship in January.
“I’m excited. I did six long, tiring years of studying medicine, so when I tell you that I am extremely happy to finally be back home and enjoying some time out with my family before the work kicks in, please believe me!” giggled Camp.
Meanwhile, Madonsela, CSJ’s director, was one of the first people to congratulate Camp on achieving her goal.
“It was heartwarming when we received news of Sarah’s intention to undertake a cycling pilgrimage in support of our Pilgrimage of Hope, which is an extension of our #Action4Inclusion crowdfunding initiative.
“I was moved deeply by her generosity of spirit and immediately indicated to my CSJ team that we must support her,” Madonsela said.
She added that Camp’s cycling initiative would keep “the flame of hope” burning until the Pilgrimage of Hope resumes from 20 January to 2 February next year.
“We, as the CSJ, are proud to be associated with Sarah and are inspired by her compassion and selfless service to humanity. We hope she motivates many more within the Matie community and beyond,” Madonsela said.
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