Vouks cycles to Namibia to raise funds for dancers
BREAKING THE CYCLE: Bboy Vouks during Namibia trip
Aside from breakdancing, Bboy Vouks is breaking the cycle of poverty by uplifting, motivating and assisting dancers, while also promoting mental health.
With the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and its effect on the entertainment industry, there was a big outcry for aid from artists.
Gerald James, aka Vouks, then founded The Vouks Foundation and does an annual cycle tour to raise funds for a worthy cause.
Vouks completed his first fundraising ride in September 2021 from Johannesburg to Cape Town in just over eight days.
On 9 May this year, he cycled from Cape Town to Namibia and the trip took nine days.
In addition, funds raised will go toward dancers who aspire to enter the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as break dancing is now an officially recognised sport.
Dancer Short Blitz and graffiti artist Falko were planning to join Vouks but Falko was diagnosed with Covid while Short had a family emergency, leaving Vouks to ride alone.
Vouks tells the Daily Voice: “Falko put in such a lot of work and was really disappointed when he couldn’t make it.
“Shorty had to attend to his daughter so it was just me.
“There were days I just wanted to cry seeing how other people live, along the routes I rode.
“This tour was three times more difficult than the last one.
“It was all uphill but it was good to meet up with the locals.”
He managed to raise R15 000.
Talented youth who can’t afford airfare and accommodation or a dance kit will be assisted.
Vouks says: “The mission is to select hopeful Olympians from around South Africa through the foundation programme and mentor them to become their best.”