Twenty-five-year-old Sarah Camp, a final-year medical student at Stellenbosch University (SU), completed a gruelling 1 500-kilometre cycling journey across South Africa. Starting from Worcester in the Western Cape on 26 October and ending in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, on 4 November, Camp tackled this adventure to raise funds for #Action4Inclusion, an initiative aimed at alleviating student debt.
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According to Stellenbosch University, Camp’s determination to help her peers overcome financial barriers to education served as inspiration for her journey. She also drew inspiration from Professor Thuli Madonsela’s Pilgrimage of Hope and the commitment of SU’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers and Tygerberg medical professor Karin Baatjes, who have made similar efforts for student welfare.
Professor Madonsela, the director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) at SU, was one of the first people to congratulate Camp on achieving her goal. Acknowledging her achievement, Professor Madonsela praised Camp’s ‘generosity of spirit’ and her role in keeping hope alive for many students.
Professor Elmi Muller, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, lauded Camp for her determination and compassion.
‘Sarah’s cycling will keep the flame of hope burning while our pilgrimage of hope awaits resumption from January 20 to February 2 next year. In undertaking this journey as her Ubuntu-grounded gesture of human solidarity, Sarah follows in the footsteps of SU’s rector and vice-Chancellor, Professor Wim de Villiers, a doctor himself, who cycles, walks and hikes to end student hunger and raise funds to remove student debt as a barrier to completing higher education studies,’ remarked Muller.
‘She also follows in the footsteps of Tygerberg medical professor Karin Baatjes, who raised over R100 000 to help disadvantaged students through walking earlier in 2023. We joined her on one of her walks. We, as the CSJ, are proud to be associated with Sarah and inspired by her compassion and selfless service to humanity. We hope she motivates many more within the Matie community and beyond,’ Muller added.
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This was not Camp’s first encounter with physical challenges. She has previously traversed the Drakensberg Mountain range, paddled England’s River Thames and completed the Comrades Marathon. Her latest adventure saw her traverse diverse landscapes, from the Western Cape’s Winelands to the Eastern Cape’s rugged mountains, finally reaching the lush greenery of KZN.
Camp’s cycling adventure began on 26 October at SU’s Ukwanda Medical School Campus in Worcester and came to an end as the sun sank over Hillcrest in KZN on 4 November. Through her GivenGain fundraising platform, she raised over R20 000 to help with student debt relief while enduring all that Mother Nature could throw at her: sunshine, wind and rain.
‘Graduation is just around the corner,’ explained Camp. ‘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 is committed to helping graduates who are unable to access their academic records after graduation due to student debt, as well as students who are unable to register for the following academic year due to unpaid fees.
‘Access to education shouldn’t depend on wealth,’ said Camp. ‘In my small way, I wanted to do my bit to help talented young professionals get the start they deserve!’
Before her adventure could begin, Camp had to overcome numerous obstacles, including convincing her professors to grant her and her backup driver, fellow medical student Bianca Tout, a leave of absence from the hospital; ensuring that all of her academic work was up to date; borrowing a bicycle; arranging sponsorship for fuel and accommodation along the way; and, most importantly, convincing her loved ones that she would take all necessary safety precautions during her epic journey.
Sarah said it felt surreal to be back home after a warm welcome from proud family members and her dog, Spencer.
‘I can’t believe that I don’t have to climb on a bicycle again tomorrow! I am so grateful to everyone who made the trip possible, especially Bianca, for all her support on the road. It was definitely a team effort; I couldn’t have done it without her. But also to my parents, Professor Madonsela and Marna Lourens from CSJ, for the petrol money and all the kind folks across the country who gave us warm beds to sleep in. We have a beautiful country with warm, hospitable people and I feel blessed to have been lucky enough to see it by bicycle and to have made the journey for #Action4Inclusion. I hope that the trip has helped raise awareness and funds for student debt relief so that more deserving young South Africans can access the education they deserve. Everyone, in their own small way, can make a difference,’ Camp concluded.
Despite her extraordinary feat, Camp’s journey is far from over. She now faces the final hurdle of her medical exams, returning to Worcester by car the day after her cycling journey ended.
To contribute to Sarah Camp’s cause, visit her GivenGain profile.
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Picture: Stellenbosch University / Facebook