The Gifted Children Foundation (GCF) has applauded the sponsors and partners of the 2025 Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke, describing their contribution as a lifeline that will shape the futures of talented yet disadvantaged children living along the Great Dyke.
GCF director Mrs Emily Hwengwere said this year’s sponsors had gone beyond supporting a prestigious sporting event — they had invested directly in the education and empowerment of children whose dreams often collapse under the weight of financial hardship.
Mrs Hwengwere said the Tour’s backers were helping to unlock the potential of young Zimbabweans who, when supported, can rise to become “the leaders, engineers and teachers of tomorrow.” She thanked the companies, institutions and individuals who continue to believe in the power of education to break cycles of poverty within mining communities.
The Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke has grown into Zimbabwe’s flagship cycling event, drawing local and regional cyclists for a challenging multi-day ride covering more than 300 kilometres. The route snakes through the iconic Great Dyke geological formation, passing towns such as Chegutu, Kwekwe, and Gweru, where thousands line the roads to cheer on the riders.
But the event’s impact stretches far beyond sport. Each year, proceeds from the Tour are channelled towards the Gifted Children Foundation to fund school fees, uniforms, stationery, mentorship and other essential needs for underprivileged learners. The initiative has become a beacon of hope, offering academically gifted children from mining communities an opportunity to stay in school and pursue meaningful careers.
Mrs Hwengwere said the continued support for the Tour demonstrated the corporate sector’s commitment to uplifting communities and empowering the next generation. She noted that many beneficiaries of the programme had gone on to excel in secondary school and tertiary education, proving that targeted assistance can have long-lasting results.
The 2025 edition of the Tour continues to embody its founding spirit — a vibrant celebration of wellness, opportunity, charity and national unity, bringing together cyclists, mining houses, financial institutions and community organisations for a common cause: transforming lives through education.
