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When the residents of Goutrou in Victoria West talk about heroes, they don’t refer to well-known athletes or stars. Instead, they highlight two regular men, Jan Swarts and Heinrich Fiellies.

Jan and Heinrich got on their bicycles, both of them having never cycled more than 100km prior, and they rode over 1,600 kilometers from Parys in the Free State to Bloubergstrand in Cape Town.

They did it for a single reason: to illuminate the hidden aspects of their neighborhood.

However, the true narrative, the essence of it, started much earlier than the aching muscles and the Karoo breeze and the close calls with snakes. It started with a vision.

The vision that transformed everything

It was an unusual dream that left him unsettled. A child alone in a completely dark house, the kind of darkness that seems to press against your skin.

A few days later, he had the same dream again. This time, Heinrich saw himself giving a candle to the child. A tiny light amidst a vast darkness. As he handed the candle over, he noticed a bicycle next to the child.

“It troubled me greatly. I couldn’t overlook it,” Heinrich stated.

Not sure what it meant, he approached a respected elder in the neighborhood. He explained both dreams. The elder listened carefully, then looked at him directly and said, “Seun, jy moet lig bring.” (My boy, you must bring light) Heinrich asked, “But how?” The elder replied simply, “Jy moet jou fiets gebruik.” (You must use your bicycle)

Heinrich had only an old delivery bicycle, unsuitable for long trips. However, news of the dream spread throughout the neighborhood. One day, a friend surprised him with a suitable bike.

He simply mentioned that he felt he had to do this for me. That marked the beginning of the journey.

Jan says yes

Heinrich started training by himself on the sandy paths near Goutrou. He frequently asked for power and direction. However, as he practiced more, he understood he couldn’t accomplish this alone. “I thought, I need someone who will challenge me, someone who will travel the path alongside me.”

That individual was Jan Swarts.

Heinrich presented the tale, the vision, and the strategy to Jan. Jan remained silent, then he smiled. “Yes, this seems like an opportunity. Let’s go ahead,” Jan remarked.

However, Jan also didn’t possess a suitable bicycle, and once more, what Heinrich refers to as “God’s angelic providence” proved effective. A person donated a bicycle and gear for Jan as well. Two men, two donated bikes, and one seemingly unattainable dream. Yet, they had faith, and that was all that mattered.

Training for the impossible

None of the men had ever traveled beyond a short, local distance, and as one might anticipate, the training was painful. Their bodies were unaccustomed to it. Their minds were not prepared. Yet each day they prayed, cycled, fell, got back up, and continued to push forward.

Getting mentally ready? Damn, that’s a new idea,” Heinrich said with a laugh. “We’ve never cycled more than 100 kilometers, and here we were thinking about covering 1,000 miles.

Jan, ever the inspiration, had a saying that became their rallying call: “Ons eet nie stukkies koek nie. Nee, ons eet die hele donnerse koek eenkeer op!” (We don’t eat little pieces of cake. We eat the whole damn cake in one go)

And thus, they trained with intense determination, for the dream, for the child in the darkness, for Goutrou.

This was their aspiration, their goal: To place 200 solar-powered lights in 200 homes without electricity in Goutrou, for security, respect, and to help children who have known only darkness; for families who face the risk of fires from candles and paraffin.

The journey starts, and reality strikes forcefully

Driven by their desire to spread light, they departed from Parys in November 2025, yet they still struggled to understand the journey that lay ahead. “We couldn’t grasp the idea of cycling all the way to Cape Town. It seemed impossible,” Heinrich remarked. The road made it real in no time.

The intense heat damaged their equipment, causing GPS systems and mobile phones to stop working due to excessive temperatures. They experienced extended periods without signal, leading to worry among family members who couldn’t monitor their whereabouts.

One kilometer suddenly turned into 10 times 100 meters,” Heinrich said, laughing. “You quickly learn how long a kilometer really is when you’re cycling it.

Jan, fortunately, possesses a remarkable memory. Without the need for GPS, he recalled exits and notable features, leading them through remote regions. However, the biggest threat was the absence of water.

The mercy of strangers

Running out of water is a critical situation,” Heinrich stated. “You need to consume it carefully, yet still in sufficient amounts. It’s challenging.

However, miracles continued to happen. On multiple occasions, assistance arrived precisely when needed—such as discovering a windpump with a full reservoir when Heinrich felt he was “truly dying.” There were also vehicles stopping to offer help, strangers providing money for food, and individuals selling water and Coke for R1 “just because.”

A farmer in Orania specifically stepped forward to help them.

“The Lord consistently provided assistance. Always. People telling us ‘YOU GOT THIS.’ That sustained us,” Heinrich said.

And there were also lighter moments, such as when a man laughed at their dusty, tired faces and said: “Julle is nou wat mens plain weg b*f*k noem.”

They also came across animals, some of which were stunning, while others posed a threat.

I almost ran over a puff adder,” Heinrich says. “Fortunately, neither of us was energetic enough to engage in a fight.

Suffering, supplication, and perseverance

Physically, the ride almost overwhelmed Heinrich.

I had difficulty with a damaged back and sore sitting bones. The pain was unbearable. However, I kept moving forward, as we had vowed to bring light to a home in need.

Jan stayed the more powerful cyclist, frequently pulling Heinrich forward, urging him toward the next stop, the next hill, the next respite. Yet through every moment of failure, every silent plea shouted into the breeze, every tear cried by the roadside, they continued to move ahead.

Occasionally, Heinrich implored God to reduce the wind by “just two degrees,” and he insists it truly occurred.

The concluding clash: the Cape Doctor

When they eventually arrived at the Western Cape, they encountered the most formidable adversary of all: the Cape Doctor. “It tried to push us back to the Karoo,” Heinrich laughed. “We were crying, struggling, shouting, but we kept moving forward.”

And then… Bloubergstrand. The finishing line. The conclusion of the unimaginable.

There was someone Heinrich respects like a mother, whom he had not seen in seven years. “I broke down in tears and hugged her for a long time,” he said.

The promise of light

For Heinrich, this mission goes beyond charity. It is a pledge. “It means staying true to a promise to bring hope to a family in need,” he stated. “Jan and I made a promise. We are still striving to fulfill it.”

Although their journey has come to an end, their objective stays the same: They are resolved to illuminate the dark houses in Goutrou.

In the end, what truly mattered about this journey wasn’t crossing the finish line, receiving applause, or gaining media coverage. No, for these men, the greatest reward was spiritual in nature: “This isn’t our story. It’s His story. God’s story for Goutrou. We were merely the pens He used,” explains Heinrich as he reflects on the many blessings they received: places to sleep safely, strangers covering the cost of their lodging, people cheering them on, returning home to their families, and children shouting at them in the streets: “Awê Oom Hein! Jy en Jan is ysters!”

The story isn’t over

Jan and Heinrich finished the 1,000 Mile Ride for Light, but their journey is far from over, as these two men will keep cycling and maintaining their faith until every home in Goutrou is illuminated.

They intend to repeat the event next year, and for anyone considering participating, Heinrich is straightforward. “Go ahead and do it. Just do it. Prepare thoroughly. Disregard the doubters. Bring plenty of water. Have a spare vehicle. Nee man, gaan doen dit net,” he states.

And, naturally, Jan’s well-known remark regarding how they consume cake continues to be remembered.

Ongoing support

For individuals wishing to contribute to the cause, donations can be processed through one of the following options:

Online via GoGetFunding

Direct Bank Transfer

Account Name: Goutrou Ride for Change

Bank: Standard Bank

Account Number: 102 584 90657

Branch Code: 051001