Long tractor trip 4 CHICA

Etienne Lubbe, Managing Director of the Lubbe Motor Group with Reinette Koegelenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Association, introducing one of the tractors that will make the trip from Windhoek to Swakopmund to raise funds for Children with Cancer. (Photograph by Mandisa Rasmeni)

Children with Cancer (CHICA) together with the Lubbe Motor Group have launched a very different initiative to raise money for children with cancer. They have decided to drive four Kubota Tractors from Windhoek to Swakopmund. Etienne Lubbe, Managing Director of the Lubbe Motor Group said that he and his team though it was too easy just to donate money therefore they came up with this initiative which is more challenging.
The tractors will depart from Windhoek on Thursday 20 March 2014 at 05:00 and if all goes well they plan to arrive in Swakopmund at 10:00 on 22 March 2014. The tractor team seeks sponsorships per kilo driven and they want to raise approximately N$500,000. At every stop that the team makes on their way to Swakopmund they will give the public an opportunity to make donations and tell them about their initiative.

Reinette Koegelenberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Association said that this will also make the people of smaller towns aware of the disease and offer an opportunity for them to help where they can. “It is very important for us to make sure that we work with the bottom-up approach, so that the average person can also know about cancer and how to help or be helped” said Ms Koegelenberg. The team plans to drive 30 to 35km per hour, with 10-minute breaks every hour. They will try not to inconvenience traffic by having gaps between the tractors for cars to overtake. They are also planning on taking this initiative to the rest of the country. Pledges from sponsors can be submitted to the Lubbe Motor Group or on their facebook page at www.facebook.com/TRACTORS4CHICA.