On Friday, 22 September, Team Seven7 Drive made a late-afternoon stop at the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa to deliver gifts, cupcakes and good cheer to the children in the oncology ward and so ended a seven-day, 7,000 km whirlwind journey through South Africa and some of its neighbouring countries.
With two Kia Soul cars in convoy – sporting the 1.6 CRDi turbo diesel engines – the journey covers 7,000 km in seven days to raise funds for a pre-selected charitable cause that supports children fighting cancer.
Each year, donors are invited to donate R1 per kilometre, or any other amount, and these funds are collected and paid in full to this organisation.
For 2017, the Seven7 Drive team selected Cupcakes of Hope, a not-for-profit company that uses the universally loved symbol of cupcakes to raise funds and support children and their families who are fighting this disease. The organisation supports over 700 families with anything, ranging from their medical bills to small acts of kindness to make their lives and dealing with this dire diagnosis easier.
This year, Team Seven7 Drive’s journey took them to Upington, Windhoek, Gaborone, Maputo, Mokhotlong (Lesotho), Port Elizabeth and ultimately Ga-Rankuwa in Pretoria. The two KIA Souls each clocked 6,880 km, even though they had to travel some pretty harsh roads, such as the Sani Pass between the Lesotho and the South African border.
“We chose the Soul for its frugal diesel engine and versatility. It has impressed us no end, lugging toys, food and brochures… as well as our crew from the western to the eastern coast of Africa and back,” says Christo Valentyn, PR and Product Marketing Manager of KIA Motors Southern Africa.