I’ve not been silent about the challenges we’ve faced in ‘selling’ Team Zonke to the general public. The intervention itself is expensive, and for many, it’s perceived as a luxury unnecessary for children in the throes of disruption. On a deeper level, I’ve wondered whether there’s an insinuation that children in care don’t deserve the niceties of life. But I’ve tried not to dwell on this.
Because truth be told, Team Zonke has been the single most revolutionary and successful interventions we have ever implemented. It has allowed us to circumvent the thinking brain and get to get directly to the heart of our kids’ fears and dysfunctions- stabilising us to a space where every single team member is both mediation and therapy free. It’s been a remarkable thing to witness.
We have seen night terrors completely resolve, academic performance improve holistically and notably, and overall regulation find equilibrium. For children who had previously lost control of their bodies- down to the simplest decision of where to live (a decision forced upon them at the scariest moment), what to eat (something which becomes so foreign after living a life in one place and suddenly becoming accustomed to another without choice in the matter), who to live with and often how safe their physical person is- to be allowed the autonomy of riding a motorcycle- where every decision has a consequence and every movement is self directed and important- it’s a game changer.
As a mom, and as a project leader sticking her neck out to make this unconventional method work- one thing I’ve never been able to compromise on is safety. It’s a dangerous sport, and there are eyes on us for taking the risk. Whilst I’d argue that I am not convinced the sport itself is more dangerous than, rugby as an example, I digress from the matter at hand. I see my role as protector as my most important all round- and so kit, at the highest quality, has never been optional for me.
Our biggest Team Zonke sponsor to date, without question, remains the Raddest-Dad in history- a man who has put up money to bike motorbikes, covered the cost of almost every race entered, and been willing to buy any child who joins, top quality kit. From helmets to neck braces, knee braces, elbow guards, chest protectors and goggles- there is never a moment, not one single ride, that our children ever get into a motorbike without the best available equipment.
A motorcycle helmet can cost well in excess of R10,000.
Protecting our children’s heads is an obvious non-negotiable. We’re not buying polystyrene ‘place fillers’- ensuring the ultimate protection is something we are obliged to do. That commitment alone has cost Rad-Dad (mostly) an eye-watering amount of money over the last two years.
It’s because of this that the sponsorship from BikeWise and Arai South Africa makes such a monumental difference to us. By creating a space for us that makes top quality helmets, available for our riders, the sponsorship has simultaneously eased out budget and told our children that they are worth protecting… not just by mom and dad. And being recognised and acknowledged by a brand of this calibre, a brand offering supreme protection, speaks volumes to our children who feel seen and appreciated.
As we incrementally roll out the colourful from Arai, across the entire team, some of our first recipients were super excited to make a trip to their offices in Sandton. Here, they did not simply receive their helmets but also got to have a custom fitting by their incredible team. The process of having helmet pads tailored specific to their heads, in a way that ensures ultimate fit and best possible protection, was an experience in of itself. And knowing that they have top quality helmets, fitted perfectly to their specific heads… that also look, and to quote my children, ‘sik bro’… is peace of mind in it’s truest form.
What a huge privilege it is to be protected by one of the most prestige brands in the game- to the entire team who made this possible- THANK YOU.
Our quest for sponsors for Team Zonke remains- and I can tell you all the beautiful stories of the way it’s helping our kids- but truth be told… I know that proven performance is ultimately what the world is after. And as luck would have it…. This bunch of little humans is pretty darn talented too! Our trophy cabinet is groaning under the weight of its contents currently, we light up almost even podium yellow and in 2025, a number of our children placed in the top three of various championships. We’re continuing to see consistent podium finishes across varied disciplines and look set to even take a national championship win this year. Turns out when something feels this good you become pretty naturally good at it!
So keep an eye out for those gorgeous Arai helmets as the podiums across South Africa and beyond continue to be lit up by the ‘Neon Ninjas’ hailing from the one and only Team Zonke.