SCICON to Launch Qhubeka Saddlebags for Charity

SCICON bags and MTN-Qhubeka cycling have announced the launched of a new team saddlebag, with all profits going to help mobilize people on bicycles in South Africa.

Qhubeka, which is a non-profit organisation that provides bicycles to people in exchange for work done to improve communities, the environment or academic results, is set up to help South Africa’s most rural areas who have no access to transport.

Scicon and Qhubeka say that bikes are the most effective and economical way of quickly addressing the problem in South Africa.

Douglas Ryder, Team MTN-Qhubeka Principal said: 

“We’re constantly trying to look for practical ways to grow the Qhubeka brand and the saddlebag one seems so simple yet it’s so effect".

SCiCON, a proud sponsor of Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung, is pleased to announce the launch of the Qhubeka Scicon saddlebag. Profits from the sale of the distinctive yellow and black saddlebags will go to mobilising people with bicycles in South Africa.

“We feel honored to be able to take part in a meaningful programme that helps changing people’s lives,” says Christian Pearce, Sales & Marketing Manager of Scicon Technical Bags. “We started sponsoring Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung in the 2013 season and it feels natural to go beyond our commitment with the team and to support the Qhubeka foundation directly with this project. We count on our global network of contacts to help us to raise funds and invite everyone to participate in this program.”

Qhubeka and Scicon were introduced by Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung. Douglas Ryder, Team MTN-Qhubeka Principal says, “We’re constantly trying to look for practical ways to grow the Qhubeka brand and the saddle bag one seems so simple, yet it’s so effective. All our riders use them and they’re always being quizzed about it, so we’re excited about this product as we think it’s going to do really well in the market place. We’ve worked with Scicon over the last while as they supply us with a range of products and the quality of the product is world-class.”

Qhubeka is a non-profit organization that provides bicycles to people in exchange for work done to improve communities, the environment or academic results. Most of South Africa’s rural population has no access to transport and people have to walk long distances to access opportunity, education, healthcare, shops and community services.

Schoolchildren are particularly badly affected by lack of mobility. In South Africa, of the 16 million school going children, 12 million walk to school. Of these, 500,000 walk more than two hours each way, spending four hours getting to and back from school each day. Bicycles are the most effective and economical method of quickly addressing this problem.

“Our partnership ensures that a percentage of Qhubeka Scicon Saddlebag sales are used to contribute to our Qhubeka programs – reflecting how interlinked the international cycling community is in empowering members of communities throughout South Africa,” says Anthony Fitzhenry, Founder of Qhubeka.