It all started in 2015: drive 7 000km in seven days in aid of kids with cancer, create awareness about childhood cancer and raise funding for families who don’t have a medical aid. This year we once again embarked on this mission, our most ambitious trek to date. Two Kia Souls were roped in to get this tough job done. This is what happened…
Where is your letter of authority to import these toys?” The Namibian policeman at the Ariamsvlei Border Post had a steely resolve about him. He clearly was not going to let us into his country without a bit of a ruckus. We explained that the inexpensive gifts, toothpaste and soap were meant for cancer kids in the hospital in Windhoek, Gaborone, Maputo, and so on. “You need three letters. You have nothing,” he insisted.
We had something at least: we offered a permission letter from the Windhoek Central Hospital. It featured an official Republic of Namibia letterhead, and was marked as hailing from the Department of Health and Social Services. The policeman read through the letter, a couple of times. He seemed disappointed; this was not turning out to be the ruckus he had banked on. Flanked by two of his colleagues, he berated us for not having the correct paperwork for the gifts. We humbly apologised, referring to the official letter from the hospital. Finally, he let us proceed, albeit with a clear warning about future travels and gifts and letters.
Welcome to the annual Seven7 Drive, where we drive 7 000km in seven days to increase awareness about kids with cancer, and help raise funds for a suitable charity that assists families who have no medical aid, and who have kids with cancer. This year we assisted Cupcakes of Hope. On this journey there is hardly a dull moment. From men-with-badge-syndrome situations, to roadworks, potholes, elephants on the road, and horrendous traffic: it’s all part of the challenge that is Seven7 Drive. Most importantly, though, are the smiles of the cancer-affected kids we visit. These usually outweigh the other hardships.
This year saw a new take on the Drive. Instead of just one vehicle, we’d have two. The second Kia would be crewed by waves of journalists, celebrities and Kia representatives. So we’d need double the time to cross borders, double the chance of trouble with men with badges, double the food, and so on. A rather significant complication then, considering the tight schedule required to cover 7 000km in seven days in rural Africa.
So we changed the route to better suit the two Kia Soul 1.6CRDi Starts. After we were literally held to ransom in Zimbabwe during the 2016 Drive, we decided to skip Mugabe’s country this year. Timing eventually necessitated that we also skip Swaziland. There certainly is enough space inside the Kia Souls for their intended city runabout application. But we needed to carry plenty of supplies. We organised a Jurgens LT675 luggage trailer to handle the gear. With the trailer all but packed though, our contacts in Mozambique urged us not to use it. Apparently the Mozambique police have gone even more haywire in recent times, dreaming up absurd offences in an effort to solicit a bribe. A trailer filled with supplies and gifts would be as luring as a pot of honey to a honey badger.
There was also the security risk. Stealing the trailer would be as easy as lifting it off the Kia’s towbar and walking off with it. And if we lost the trailer and all our supplies… well, that would not have worked out too well. In the end we ditched the trailer plan, and instead removed the rear seats from the Kalahari Ferrari (that’s what we christened the red Kia Soul). The red one would serve as the pack mule, while the blue Soul would carry our guests in spacious comfort. We prepared as best we could for the inevitable peril of the Moz police. For the first time we acquired DriveMoz stickers, this social media-born support group assists travellers in Mozambique with all aspects of travelling, from the police and border crossings to accommodation options and emergency assistance.
DriveMoz’s Zello channel application (can be downloaded on your smartphone) essentially works as a push-to-talk (PTT) two-way radio. So if you are stopped by a police officer who speaks only Portuguese and who seems to claim that you were driving at 180km/h in a 60km/h zone, you can use the PTT system to contact a fellow DriveMoz member in Mozambique who can speak the lingo, and who will try and resolve the matter. The stickers cost R50 per car. And so the date of departure arrived. We had food stocks, a large Engel fridge filled with juice, water and whatnot. We had toys and gifts. We had two Kia Souls decked out in traditional Seven7 Drive jackets, ‘styling’ bars, sets of top-notch IPF driving lights, Tracker satellite systems and Bridgestone Ecopia 200 tyres fitted to the blacked-out standard Soul rims. We were as ready as we’ve ever been to cover 7 000km. In seven days.
Kicking off with a dolly
In previous years, the first leg of the drive took us from Johannesburg to Windhoek, in Namibia. We steered clear of the main Trans-Kalahari Highway through Botswana, so the total distance for this leg amounted to about 1 800km. Our target on the first day was Upington, in the Northern Cape. That’s just 800km from Johannesburg: that’s like a breakfast run, it’s just around the corner! Things were looking dandy as the Souls headed towards the Northern Cape, early on a Saturday morning. There was more good news: the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, proved to be a marvel. We could easily maintain 120km/h in top gear, overtaking slower traffic in the same gear, too. The 1 582cc engine produces 94kW and 260Nm of torque, the latter peaking at 1 900r/min.
Although our Souls were obviously some ways heavier, the empty Kia tips the scale at 1 390kg. Performance aside, the greatest advantage of the oilburner proved to be fuel consumption. Even with a relatively small fuel tank (53 litres) the Soul 1.6CRDi can reach about 900km between refuels, at an actual average consumption of 5.8 litres/100k, cruising at 120km/h. This meant fewer stops, and less time lost. At around 3pm, we rolled into Uping-ton and headed straight to the Harry Surtie Memorial Hospital. There we met Sister Anna Paarman, who kindly afforded us some of her weekend to visit the children’s oncology ward. In the ward we met little Jermaine Klaaste, a wee little three-year-old who suffers from leukemia, or blood cancer. Journalist Ziphora Masethe handed the little man a racy model car, which seemed to perk him up no end.
Sister Anna also took us on a quick tour of this state-of-the-art hospital, which was built by the Chinese. Sadly though, many of the hospital’s facilities stand idle as there are not suitably qualified personnel to run some of the sections. We soon made it to Brown’s Manor in the outskirts of town. There we were treated to an ice-cold beer, as well as a perfectly prepared steak. It was a rather splendid, unrushed and non-stressed end to a Seven7 Drive day. And certainly not the norm. Surely this was too good to be true? So it proved to be.
Back to reality
It was 1am the next morning when the shouting and laughing started. To sum the situation up, an overnight resident at the manor had thought it a cunning plan to let about 20 of his best friends onto the premises for a bit of a pool party. And what a ruckus they caused. We did not sleep after that. Except for Kia’s Christo Valentyn, who hardly seemed to notice. We do suspect he has some hearing issues. Poor man. By 5am we were on the road, heading towards that Ariamsvlei Border Post mentioned at the beginning of this story. It took a bit of time – the card machine also didn’t work to pay for insurance – but we eventually crossed into Namibia.
If anyone tells you the remote southern parts of Namibia affords many opportunities to keep passengers occupied by all the roadside delights, you should tell that person to have their eyes tested. In this part of the world, the landscape is mostly barren, with nary a tree in sight. This is where that old saying of the “buggerall grows about knee-height” comes in. Occasionally a rocky outcrop or koppie breaks the monotony. At least the roads are in great shape, we could easily maintain our average speed of 120km/h. The Kia train swept through Karasburg, and soon joined the main B1 road, heading north towards the big centre of Keetmanshoop, and eventually Windhoek. On this long, straight stretch, we stopped more for coffee than fuel, that pool party was taking its toll.
Finally we arrived in Windhoek, and headed straight to the Windhoek Central Hospital. With our fancy letter on the official Namibian government letterhead, the ward sisters were obviously expecting us, so the process of handing out gifts to the 20 or so kids was a brisk, efficient affair. We did not linger long: the Trans-Kalahari Inn’s ice-cold Tafel Lagers and a soft bed beckoned. At the Inn, we also welcomed our new media and celebrity crew: journalist Thami Masemola and television personality Tumelo Maketekete. Thankfully, that night, there were no more pool parties.
A clean run
Next stop was Gaborone, in Botswana. We headed out on the Trans-Kalahari Highway, which meant we crossed the border between Namibia and Botswana at the Buitepos Post. After completing the 200km from Windhoek to the border in the dark, our timing worked out a charm for a quick breakfast in the town of Gobabis. The border crossing went pretty smoothly: the formalities were completed inside 20 minutes. That was more like it. In Botswana, the Trans- Kalahari Highway, especially up to the town of Kang, is not a scenic drive. But we could easily maintain an average speed of more than 100km/h, which was more important than scenic vistas.
On this stretch, you have to pay attention to the many 80km/h sections – police officers with radar guns (and a card machine) – are lined up to take your money if you don’t adhere to the limit. At around 5pm, we finally rolled into Gaborone. There we met up with Kebaabetswe Setlhong, the chairman of a parent’s association for kids living with cancer. In the parking area of the Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence we met about 10 kids living with cancer. The oncology unit, next to the Clinical Centre, is the only one in Botswana that can treat kids with cancer. We spent some time with the children and one lucky lad in a wheelchair got one of our most prized gifts: a Spiderman figurine. He clung onto it with some tenacity. Like a real little superhero should.
A long, long trek
This was one day we were dreading just a little bit. It was not so much the 1 100km – one of the longer legs of this year’s drive – it was rather the fact that it was the day we had to deal with the Mozambique red tape and police. We landed up second in line at the Skilpadshek Border Post (between Botswana and South Africa), waiting for the gates to open at 6am. Soon after, we were back in the homeland, taking in Swartruggens, Rustenburg and then Hartbeespoort Dam. At a pitstop in Harties we said cheers to one of our charges, Thami Masemola. Onwards we pushed, heading east on the N4 after skirting around Pretoria. The section between Nelspruit and Komatipoort proved to be the worst driving we had experienced until then. Roadworks, high volumes of traffic and brain-dead motorists who consider this segment of the N4 to be a racetrack kept us on our toes.
At the border post, we struck it lucky: our contacts had arranged for someone to assist in this crossing process. Anyone who has used this post before will attest to the chaos, the harassment, the Portuguese forms; but the lad helped us through and in a record time, we were through. Things were looking up. A few kilometres from the border we were stopped in our tracks in a line of buses, trucks and other cars. A huge stop-and-go was in place, thanks to some roadworks, and the police were using this opportunity to host an impromptu roadblock. One police officer casually ambled over. Leaning in through the driver’s window, he peeked at the Kia’s dashboard. “It’s a new one?” he asked. “It sure is, yes,” we replied. “Mmmm… That’s nice.” And with that he walked off. That, amazingly, was our one and only interaction with the Mozambique police for the day.
After the stop-and-go roadworks, our average speed picked up. Time to reach the state hospital in Maputo was running out, though. Then we hit the outskirts of Maputo, and the traffic was gridlocked. We had our hearts set on reaching the hospital but when our contacts heard we were still about 15km from the city centre they reckoned it would take another two to three hours. By then it would be too late to visit the kids anyway. We made the call to wait out the traffic and to hand over the gifts for the kids to our Maputo friends, who would see the kids got the gifts the next day. We ended our long day in a Chinese hotel in the city centre. But not before we spoilt ourselves with an excellent seafood platter at a seaside restaurant. Hey, when in Rome…
From sea to Sani
We were keen to keep our meeting with the Mozambique police brief following the previous afternoon. We left the surreal hotel in Maputo at 4am. It proved to be an inspired move: it appears as though Mozambique’s police force is still fast asleep at this time of day. We arrived at the border about 30min before the 6am opening time. The fact that we did not have to deal with the police more than made up for this slight inconvenience. The actual border crossing was also dispatched in a brisk manner. Phew! So that was that for Moz. We made our way on the dodgy N4 section between Komatipoort and Nelspruit, and then hooked a left on rural roads to Harrismith. Traffic was heavy though, slowing our progress. We had an appointment to keep: we were meeting up with the last group, and as we encountered more stop-and-go roadworks and got stuck in more traffic, our 10am meeting time seemed increasingly optimistic.
It was just after 12 when we stopped in Harrismith, where journalist Ane Theron, radio and television personality Pulane Sekepe, and Kia’s Randy Robertson were waiting. We had been planning a bit of a breather here, but there was no time as we still had to make it all the way to Sani Mountain Lodge in Lesotho. We restocked our Kia’s fridge in 15min, loaded up our new guests, and off we went. Compared to the Mozambique border crossing experience, the Caledonspoort border crossing was a breeze: calmness, friendliness, and efficient service. However, we still had about 200km to cover from Caledonspoort to Mokhotlong, and the Touching Tiny Lives complex.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a straight bit of road in that 200km: it’s switchback after switchback, with beautiful scenery to boot. Average speed can take a bit of a pounding here. In these conditions, the Kia’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine impressed. Thanks to the turbocharger, the engine had plenty of poke at around 2 000m above sea level, with the 260Nm of torque coming to the party, too. Still, we had to push on to try and make Mokhotlong in the daylight. Thankfully the Soul didn’t mind this at all, and together with the grippy Bridgestone Ecopia tyres, we made good time in the twisties. We stopped in front of the Touching Tiny Lives complex with the sun already tucked in behind the beautiful Maluti Mountains. Thankfully, the staff was still there, and we quickly said hello to the kids, and dropped off our offerings.
It was just turning dark when we tackled the last 50km to the Sani Mountain Lodge. There was one little stumbling block remaining: Black Mountain Pass, the highest tarred pass in Africa. No longer in any rush, and with the IPF driving lights turning night into day, we completed this stretch without any drama. Maybe it was a good thing it was dark though: if our guests had seen some of the drop-offs next to the road… We arrived at the cosy Sani Mountain Lodge, as hungry as grizzly bears. But before dinner was served, a round of Jagermeisters in the highest pub in Africa was in order. Oh yes. That was so in order.
From Sani to sea (the other sea)
The Lesotho border opens at 6am. We were the first customers, and the lady with ‘the stamp’ had to be summoned from a nearby dwelling. A lone policeman, hiding in his bakkie from the icy cold wind, walked over, and got onto all fours as he inspected the undercarriage of the Souls. “This one is going to be damaged,” he said, worriedly. “The road is in bad condition.” Ahead of us was the infamous Sani Pass: the pass that has claimed a few lives over the years. Truth be told though, it’s only the few hundred metres near the summit that is really daunting: a hectic angle, massive drops, a slippery surface. And of course, we were in two front-wheel driven crossovers, not 4×4s.
The key was to take all ‘due care’, and not panic. If all else failed, just drive the Soul into the rock on the left until it stops, we advised our guests. That’s a whole lot better than getting airtime if you go over the edge. Slowly, surely, we made it down the pass. The policeman was quite correct: we have certainly seen the pass in better shape. But it was not nearly as bad as we thought. It took us two hours of slow going but eventually, the two Souls rolled onto the smooth, black stuff again. We had made it, without a single issue. Our elation was relatively short-lived. Going for the shortest distance to our next target, Port Elizabeth, the GPS routed us via the main N2 artery. This stretch of more than 400km through the former Transkei proved to be the worst of our entire journey.
Roadworks, idiots who overtake lines of cars in the face of oncoming traffic, taxis that stop in the middle of the road, animals on the road: it is probably one of the most stressful to drive in all of Southern Africa. Finally, after 8pm, and much later than we had hoped for, we stopped in front of the Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital. There we met the inspirational Jennifer Cape, a volunteer who has virtually dedicated her life to the children’s oncology ward. The ward is one of the best we’ve ever seen. While Pulane and Ane handed out gifts, Jennifer told us that this section of the state hospital is so good that private patients (with medical aids) also come here for treatment. It was a really good way to end a really tough day. As was our accommodation for the night: the fancy Radisson Blu Hotel. Sure beats the brothel we ended up in Zimbabwe in 2016. And by some way, too. Ironically, this day had been the shortest in kilometres, but by far the toughest to drive. Go figure.
The final push
We had about 1 200km left for our last leg, from Port Elizabeth to the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, orth-west of Pretoria. We left the hotel at 4am. We wanted to get there earlier, rather than late again. Everything went like clockwork. By the time we reached Beaufort West, we were ahead of schedule, and even had time to sit down for a breakfast! Oh, the luxury. If there is one thing you shouldn’t do, it is to tempt lady fate with such matters. Because she had one last hurdle for us to cross: it was a Friday afternoon, and the beginning of a long weekend. And we had to traverse Johannesburg and Pretoria’s traffic.
As we cruised past Bloemfontein, still ahead of schedule, we started crunching some numbers: by the time we reached Joburg it would be about 4pm, when the peak traffic starts. By the time we were (theoretically) due to reach Pretoria, we would be totally swamped. Radio reports suggested that traffic was unusually heavy because of the exodus from the city for the long weekend. We looked at alternatives, using maps, GPS system and our trusted Waze app, which has live traffic updates. We decided to take the R28 towards Krugersdorp, thereby going left around Johannesburg and Pretoria. It would be longer in distance, but shorter in time.
But our Waze navigation appplication failed us for the first time, not warning us about the peril that lay ahead: shortly after leaving the N1 drag on the R28, we were stopped: massive roadworks, with 15 minute waits at each stop-and-go. No! Couldn’t we just get this done and dusted? To cut a long and frustrating story short, we spent the next three hours in traffic, en-during the roadworks, the nincompoops who overtake into oncoming traffic (this was turning into a daily thing). Eventually we were clear of the mess and, after using a few innovative shortcuts, we finally pulled into the hospital at just after 6pm. It was another hectic 14-hour day, but we had made it. We went to the children’s oncology ward, armed with gifts. These were handed out swiftly. There was more good news: the ward is in pretty decent shape, especially compared to some of the horrors we’ve experienced on previous Seven7 Drives.
Finally, we were done. And exhausted. As we walked towards the exit, a kind doctor said: “Oh, don’t forget about that young man.” We handed over a teddy bear to Ane Theron, who entered the isolated room, tucked away in a corner. “Hello there. I’ve got some-thing for you,” she said, holding the teddy bear out. He smiled ever so faintly, but didn’t take the bear from Ane. “He’s gone blind,” helped the doctor. “You need to put it in his hand, so he can feel it.” She touched his hand with the soft bear. The boy instinctively took hold of it, touching it, forming the picture of the bear in his head. And the smile on his face spread wider. “Thank you,” he mumbled. “Thank you.”
Driving home that evening, to our families and children who we had not seen for a week, we again realised how blessed and fortunate we are. Never mind a few roadworks, some arrogant police officers, the dangerous drivers, the 14-hour days on the road. Next year we will be back. Bigger, better, stronger. For the kids.
“If anyone tells you the remote southern parts of Namibia affords many opportunities to keep passengers occupied by all the roadside delights, you should tell that person to have their eyes tested”
The annual Seven7 Drive is not a case of get-into-Kia-and-drive-7 000km. Months of planning go into the process, covering everything from arrangements at hospitals, documentation to cross borders, vehicle customisation to suit the unique Seven7 needs, and so on. We could not do this without the support of various companies and establishments. Here we pay homage to those companies.
Kia Motors South Africa
Kia supplied the two Soul 1.6CRDi Starts that we used for the trip. The company also contributed to logistical expenses. For the first time, two Kia representatives joined us on the trip, demonstrating a clear intention to get even more intrinsically involved with this project. The two little Souls punched far above their class in this Drive. The 900km range per tank, the effortless performance of the 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine, the comfort of the cabin, the fact that both cars conquered Sani Pass… the quirky and underrated Soul deserves to sell in far greater numbers.
More information: kia.co.za
Bridgestone South Africa
Leading tyre manufacturer Bridgestone has supported this initiative from 2015. The Soul’s standard 17-inch rims limited the options though, and barring a suspension lift kit, there was no all-terrain option that would fit. Instead, Bridgestone suggested its state-of-the-art Ecopia 200, the company’s performance tyre range that saves fuel. The Ecopia has a lower rolling resistance than normal tyres, increasing range and reducing carbon emissions. The tyres are performance products, so they offer outstanding grip in the corners, both in the dry and wet.
Probably the best news of all is the Free Tyre Damage Guarantee: if an Ecopia is inadvertently damaged on the road, and it is registered through Bridgestone, the tyre will be replaced. Terms and conditions apply of course, but this does add an added level of peace of mind that few rivals can offer. More information: bridgestone.co.za
Tracker
Our ‘eye in the sky’ was Tracker. The company fitted its state-of-the-art SkyTrax satellite tracking systems to both Souls. This system allows a user to track a vehicle online via computer, tablet or smartphone. SkyTrax uses GSM and GPS technology to pinpoint a vehicle’s location within five metres. Roaming can also be activated, as was the case with our Souls. Every time we crossed a border, a message would be sent to inform our base that the cars had done so. Even when we entered unsafe areas, the system would send an SMS.
The MyTracker function proved a great asset. Our base could log onto the web and locate the position of the cars at any time. Another arrow in the SkyTrax quiver is medical assistance: a panic button will summon (within South Africa’s borders) a full medical response to your vehicle’s position.
More information: tracker.co.za
4×4 Mega world
Driving at night in rural Africa can be a dangerous prospect, with animals, people and vehicles that have but one headlight working on the road. A top-notch lighting solution was needed. 4×4 Mega World came to the party with its high-end IPF driving lights. We specifically opted for the high quality halogen lights instead of LED lights as there are a lot of reports of travellers picking up issues with police in neighbouring countries in regard to high power LED lights. 4×4 Mega World also supplied a huge 80-litre Engel fridge, as well as sand ladders. The fridge did a great job, and thankfully we never needed the sand ladders on Sani Pass. More information: 4x4megaworld.co.za
Horizon Global
Horizon Global, a company that specialises in aftermarket accessories for a variety of vehicles, supplied and fitted the so-called styling bars to the Souls, as well as a tow bar for the red Kalahari Ferrari (the plan was to tow a trailer but in the end we decided against it). The front styling bars were essential for the fitment of the driving lights, and provided a stable platform for the IPFs to go about their business. More information: horizonglobal.co.za
Wrap vehicles SA
The crew at Wrap Vehicles SA did a great job creating a subtle but eye-catching wrap design for the Kia Souls. Using top-quality and advanced materials from leading brands such as Avery, Arlon and 3M, the team’s service and craftsmanship is of the highest standards. The company also provides clear paint protection film applications for customers who spend a lot of time off the beaten track in their 4×4s. More information: wrapvehicles.co.za
Liquid Armour
Sometimes it’s the small things that make a difference and without blacked-out wheels, the Souls just didn’t look complete. So Liquid Armour supplied us with a few aerosol cans of its removable rubber coating paint, in black. We applied this ourselves. This rubber coating not only changed the look of the Souls, but also served to protect the standard rims.The application can be easily removed afterwards. More information: liquidarmour.co.za
Zartek
To ensure go hassle-free communication between the two Souls, which was an essential part of this challenge, Zartek supplied two of its latest ZA-725 two-way radio systems, including magnetic mount car kits and range extenders. The radios never lost signal, providing clear communication between the two Souls, proving invaluable on the 7000km trek. More information: zartek.co.za
Mediaserve
This public relations and communications company offered its services for the Seven7 Drive cause, and assisted with media and hospital liaison, securing some of the sponsors and accommodation, picking up and dropping off some of our guests, running the Facebook updates, and much more. More information: mediaserve.co.za
Places we stayed… thanks are due
Upington, Northern Cape
We were housed in great luxury at the upmarket Browns Manor. The rooms, service and food were of the highest standard. More information: brownsmanor.co.za
Windhoek, Namibia
The Trans-Kalahari Inn is situated about 20km from Windhoek, next to the main B1 road leading north towards Gobabis. Quaint and with great food. Oh, and ice-cold Tafel Lagers, too.
More information: transkalahari-inn.com
Gaborone, Botswana
The Kleynhans Home, situated just outside the Gaborone metropole, offers luxurious self-catering accommodation, in the bush. It’s a real pity we never got to spend more time there. It seemed like a grand setting to spend a few days of R&R. More information: thekleynhanshome.com
Maputo, Mozambique
The Sogecoa Apart Hotel in Maputo is, well, it’s a Chinese hotel in the centre of Maputo. So if you are a Chinese national, you’ll feel right at home. Pricing of accommodation in Maputo has skyrocketed in recent times but this hotel offers some relatively reasonable deals (from
$80 per person per night). More information: Tel: +258 2132 1111; email [email protected]
Sani Pass, Lesotho
The Sani Mountain Lodge remains one of our all-time favourite destinations in the world. The highest pub in Africa, great food, amazing vistas… just mind the wind. And the temperature can drop to freezing levels, too. More information: sanimountain.co.za; email [email protected]
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The beautiful Radisson Blu Hotel, located on Port Elizabeth’s beachfront, afforded us a luxurious last night on the road. The icy beers and the buffet at the Tabu Grill were great. Sadly we didn’t have time to check into the hotel’s Camelot Spa or gym. Next time. More information: radissonblu.com; email [email protected]
A final thanks
There were so many people who assisted in this year’s Seven7 Drive, we can hardly name them all. But thank you to everyone who had a part in this initiative: from cupcake bakers to sponsors to hospital staff who assisted us to all the guests who joined us on this trip to the individuals who donated gifts. This year we managed to raise about R50 000 for Cupcakes of Hope.
Next year we’ll go even bigger, and better.
Text: Danie Botha
Photography: GG van Rooyen