Cape Town - After departing 20 days ago on a journey around Africa to spread awareness about mental health challenges, 22-year-old Adam Jacobs says it has been the interactions with others that transformed a solitary ride into one full of experiences of overwhelming kindness.
Jacobs, the creative mind behind the Chasing Adam brand, set off from Rook Cycles in Bree Street on July 6 on the cycling expedition through 34 African countries, aiming to raise R100 000 for adolescent mental health NGO Waves for Change.
Jacobs is no stranger to activism; he regularly posts motivational messages social media encouraging others to embrace an active lifestyle.
He said this journey represented something deeper.
“We all know someone who has faced mental health battles. This ride is about facing fears and overcoming hardships while drawing attention to the pressing need for mental health awareness,” he said.
Jacobs is in the Eastern Cape, delighting in every moment of his journey.
“The thing is, it’s absolutely amazing as it’s winter, which is my favourite season,” he said.
His expedition has been made all the more enriching by the generosity of strangers; and free accommodation granted by Airbnb.
But it’s not just the warmth of hospitality that has defined Jacobs's experience.
“Many people have opened up their hearts for me. These interactions have transformed a solitary journey into a tapestry woven with stories of human kindness,” he said.
Jacobs said his primary challenge was maintaining consistency in documenting his journey while securing reliable wi-fi access.
Jacobs recounts one defining moment that occurred while he was making his way through Strand and was faced with a blocked road.
“I was asked to take an alternative route but I refused,” Jacobs said.
His refusal was met with eventual success as authorities cleared the blockage.
This experience highlighted the importance of determination and trusting one’s instincts, he said.
Jacobs views his expedition as “a marathon and not a sprint”. This approach has not only prepared him for unforeseen hurdles but has also cultivated an openness to life’s unpredictable nature.
“Every day has been amazing; the highs and lows do come but friendliness helps when you are on your own and encourages you on the journey,” he said.
Waves for Change, the non-profit organisation Jacobs is supporting, has five surfing hubs in the Western and Eastern Cape.
Their surf therapy programmes focus on providing mental health support to children and young people from under-served communities.
Waves for Change event manager Tania Bailey said: “We are so honoured that Adam has chosen us as the beneficiary of his fund-raising effort. It costs around R10 000 a child for them to complete the full surf therapy programme and aftercare service, so that R100 000 will benefit 10 children.
To support Jacobs’s fund-raising efforts, visit www.givengain.com/ project/adam-raising-funds-for-wavesforchange-surf-therapy-npc-75375
Cape Argus