Screening of award-winning cycling documentary raises funds for first all-African Tour De France team

Rising From Ashes is screening at 6:30pm on 27 February 2014 at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg as a fundraiser for what will be the first all-African Tour de France team.

Narrated by Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, the inspiring documentary has already won awards at more than a dozen film festivals worldwide.

Six years in the making, Rising From Ashes is the story of Team Rwanda, which was established in 2006 by American cycling legend Jacques Jock Boyer. He moved to the land of a thousand hills to help survivors of the genocide pursue their dream of creating a national cycling team, which is now growing from strength to strength.

During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, star rider Adrien Niyonshuti lost six of his brothers. 18 years later, at the 2012 Olympics in London, he competed in the cross-country mountain bike race, becoming the first black African to complete a mountain bike race in Olympic history.

Last year Team Rwanda started assisting countries like Ethiopia and Eritrea with smaller equipment needs and technical support. They now have a formal agreement with the cycling federations of Eritrea and Ethiopia to develop and supply their cycling program, with a focus on training cyclists for the 2016 Rio Olympics and beyond.

Team Rwandas next phase is the development of Africa's first all-African team to attempt the greatest cycling event in the world: the Tour de France.

Directed by TC Johnstone, Rising From Ashes will inspire the thousands of South African cyclists practicing for next months Cape Argus Cycle Race, but its not just about the bike: it also tells a broader story of redemption, hope and second chances in a country that, like South Africa, is still recovering from its past and in desperate need of new heroes.

Tickets for the fundraiser are on sale for R200 each, with all proceeds going towards building cycling talent in Africa through Team Rwanda. Book your tickets at https://teamrwandacycling.nutickets.co.za/Charity.

What people are saying:

I have been associated with Team Rwanda since 2008 when I first met Jock Boyer and cycled with his incredible team of young Rwandans. Apart from their amazing success in Africa and internationally, the team has had a profound impact on the Rwandan people and nation, helping repair the damage of a society ravaged by genocide. This is a real and inspirational story of Africa rising, driven by cyclists of passion and commitment.

Mike Spicer, Business Leadership South Africa

I first encountered Team Rwanda during 2007 when starting an assignment as an adviser to President Paul Kagame. Many rides and much time with the Team have followed. Team Rwanda is an inspirational story of self-help, of national healing and a painful personal redemption, and ultimately of sporting excellence against all odds.

Dr Greg Mills, Director of the Brenthurst Foundation and author of Why Africa Is Poor - And What Africans Can Do About It

Wonderfully inspiring! Joyous and uplifting, full of spirit, memorable athletes and remarkable achievements.

New York Daily News

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