While most lecturers are preparing their mid-term exams, Dr. Marietjie Lutz, a first-year chemistry lecturer at Stellenbosch University (SU), is preparing to face “The Beast.” On Sunday, 15 March, Lutz will line up at Meerendal Wine Estate for the 2026 Absa Cape Epic—a gruelling 707 km trek through 15,900 metres of vertical climbing.
But for Lutz, the real mountain isn’t the terrain; it’s the financial barrier preventing talented science students from completing their degrees.
The WOOP Factor: From George to the Cape Epic
The inspiration for Lutz’s fundraising initiative, Wheels of Opportunity (WOOP), was born in a lecture hall. In 2022, Lutz discovered that one of her high-achieving students was facing homelessness due to a lack of funding.
Refusing to let a bright mind be extinguished by poverty, Lutz turned to her bicycle.
- The Track Record: Having already completed two 600 km rides from George to Cape Town, Lutz has raised over R180,000 for students over the past two years.
- The Goal: This year, she aims to raise at least R100,000 for the #Move4Food initiative, specifically targeting “missing middle” students who don’t qualify for government bursaries.
A Team Effort: 05:00 Rides and Family Support
Balancing life as a mother of four and a full-time lecturer with the demands of an elite athlete is no small feat.
- The Routine: Lutz hits the trails at 05:00 on weekdays, often accompanied by her Grade 12 daughter, Isabel, for motivation.
- The Partner: She is joined by theatre nurse Juanita Kruger, who is celebrating 10 years of being cancer-free.
- The Lions: Upon completion, both women will be inducted into the Amabubesi (“Pride of Lions”) Finisher Club—a prestigious honour for those who have completed three Epics.
The Real Reward: Graduation
The impact of WOOP is measured in degrees, not just kilometres. Blessed Muyanga, the student whose struggle first inspired the fundraiser four years ago, is set to graduate from SU this March. Another beneficiary, a “missing middle” student assisted last year, is currently in her final year of studies.
“Growth rarely happens in the comfort zone,” says Lutz. “When you are riding for something bigger than yourself, the motivation becomes stronger than the discomfort.”
