Benefitting Charities

The  King’s  Founda0on  BotswanaBased  on  Chris-an  values,  King’s  conducts  regular  sports  outreach  programmes  throughout  the  country  to  develop  young  people’s  physical,  emo-onal  and  spiritual  capaci-es  that  they  may  grow  to  full  maturity  as  individuals  and  members  of  society.

Botswana  Substance  Abuse  Support  NetworkBOSASNet  was  founded  by  people  who  are  profoundly  concerned  about  the  increasing  problem  of  substance  abuse  in  Botswana.  Services  provided  by  BOSASNet  include:  counselling,  rehabilita-on  services,  presenta-ons,  workshops  and  BOTA  accredited  training.  

Lance  Armstrong  Founda0on  (Livestrong)Livestrong  provides  support  to  guide  people  through  the  cancer  experience,  bring  them  together  to  fight  cancer  -­‐  and  work  for  a  world  in  which  their  fight  is  no  longer  necessary.

Event History

Tour  Ya  Botswana  is  a  charitable  event  that  is  wholly  owned  by  The  King’s  Founda-on.  

Since  2007  volunteer  riders  and  support  staff  linked  to  The  King’s  Founda-on  in  the  UK  have  undertaken  annual  sponsored  bike  challenges  across  the  UK,  France  and  Italy,  raising  significant  funds  for  The  King’s  Founda-on’s  work  in  Southern  Africa.

Because  of  King’s  work  in  Botswana,  it  was  decided  that  riding  bikes  across  the  country  would  be  a  great  way  of  inves-ng  in  the  health  of  the  na-on.  The  hope  is  that  Tour  Ya  Botswana  becomes  an  annual  event  that  the  whole  country  can  be  proud  of.

BotswanaLandlocked Botswana is about the same size as France and somewhat smaller than Texas. Botswana is well known for having some of the best wilderness and wildlife on the African continent. 

Botswana is truly the Africa of dreams. Because the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River provide a year round water supply, nearly all southern African mammal species are present in Chobe National Park. 

After taking in the beauty of Chobe, Tour Ya Botswana participants prepared their bikes and started their 6-day journey across Botswana.

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." 

Lance Armstrong

The Department of Wildlife, Botswana Police, JONMOL and MRI provided amazing support alongside a local team of volunteers who served the cyclists with food, water and encouragement for one week.

Team spirit and camaraderie was incredibly strong amongst the participants from Botswana, South Africa, UK and USA. It was inspiring to see strong riders stay back to encourage others; long-term memories and friendships were created.

Participants had opportunities to connect with local communities and see projects of the benefiting charities first hand. Tshekedi Khama, the Tour Ya Botswana patron and Honourable Member of Parliament, enabled a most memorable visit to Serowe.

The Grand Palm provided a spectacular environment to finish the Tour as participants were welcomed home and celebrated by family, friends and the Honourable Kitso Mokaila, Minister of Environment, Wildlife & Tourism. Finally, Tour Ya Botswana ended in style. Energym hosted a most amazing Gala Dinner that included good food, entertainment, speeches and interactive games for participants and guests from many organisations and agencies in Botswana. An auction raised further funds for the benefiting charities, the auction included items donated by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.