Gees Against Cancer
Grant King and Brandon Crowder will be riding the Chardonnay leg of the FNB Wine2Whales 2026 on 6 – 8 November in support of CANSA Active.
Follow the heart-warming story of Grant’s son who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
GEES AGAINST CANCER
The Race with Gees — Gees Against Cancer
We are taking on Wine2Whales together, not only because we love cycling and the challenge of riding one of South Africa’s iconic mountain-bike stage races, but because we want every kilometre to stand for something bigger than ourselves.
Wine2Whales calls itself “The Race with Gees.”
For us, that means Gees Against Cancer.
We are riding to raise funds for CANSA Active, while using our love for cycling to inspire others to get active, look after their health and find their own way of bringing the gees into their lives.
Cycling has become a huge part of our lives. It gives us freedom, keeps us active and healthy, challenges us physically and mentally, and most importantly, brings people together. We want to use our passion for the sport to show that fitness can be about more than performance — it can be about community, positivity, purpose and making a difference.
But for us, this ride is also deeply personal.
In 2024, my son was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). After everything he had already endured through treatment, we were just seven months away from completing his treatment when we received the devastating news that his cancer had relapsed.
He now faces another incredibly difficult journey, including a stem cell transplant.
One of the things that makes this journey particularly difficult for me as his dad is knowing how much he misses something he loves so much — riding his bike with me.
He absolutely loves riding his bike. Some of my favourite memories are the times we’ve spent together on our bikes, exploring, riding, having fun and simply enjoying being outdoors together.
Cancer has taken so much away from him, and being able to ride together is one of those simple things we never take for granted anymore.
So when I get on my bike and ride, I carry a little bit of him with me.
I ride with the hope that one day we’ll be back out there together — side by side, bikes beneath us, enjoying the freedom that cycling gives us.
As a parent, there is nothing harder than watching your child go through something like this. There are times when you wish you could take the pain, fear and uncertainty away.
We can’t do that.
But we can ride.
We can ride to raise funds for CANSA Active.
We can ride to raise awareness.
We can ride to inspire people to get moving and live healthier lives.
And we can ride to show that even when life puts an enormous climb in front of you, you keep pedalling.
That is what Gees Against Cancer means to us.
It’s about bringing the gees through fitness, exercise, friendship and fun — while standing together with those affected by cancer.
Every kilometre of Wine2Whales will carry a little more meaning for us. We’ll be riding for my son, for families facing cancer, for those currently fighting, and in memory of those who have lost their battle.
We want our journey to remind people that you don’t need to be an elite athlete to make a difference. A walk, a run, a ride, a gym session or simply choosing to be more active is a step in the right direction.
And when we bring that energy together, we can create something powerful.
So when Wine2Whales says:
“THE RACE WITH GEES”
we want to make our own meaning of it:
GEES AGAINST CANCER.
We are riding for a reason.
We are riding with purpose.
We are riding with hope.
And we’re bringing the gees all the way.
If our story inspires you, please consider supporting our CANSA Active fundraising campaign. Every donation, no matter how big or small, helps us turn the kilometres we ride into something that can make a difference.
Donate. Share. Get active. Bring the gees.
🚴♂️ GEES AGAINST CANCER
The Race with Gees. Riding for a reason.
You can support Grant and Brandon’s adventure via their online fundraising campaign on GivenGain
