The dream that sparked a 1,600km trip

1000-MILER RIDE FOR LIGHT

- DANIE VAN DER LITH

Two men from Goutrou in Victoria West, Heinrich Fiellies and Jan Swarts, cycled more than 1,600 km from Parys to Bloubergstrand in the 1,000 Miler Ride for Light to raise funds for 200 solar lights for their community. Picture: Supplied

WHEN the people of Goutrou in Victoria West talk about heroes, they don’t speak of celebrities or sports stars. They speak of two ordinary men: Jan Swarts and Heinrich Fiellies, who climbed onto bicycles — despite neither ever riding more than 100km before — and pedalled more than 1,600km from Parys to Bloubergstrand.

They did it for one purpose: to bring light into the darkest corners of their community.

But the story didn’t begin on the road. It began with a dream.

In the first dream, Heinrich saw a child sitting alone in a pitch-dark home, a thick, suffocating darkness that “you can feel pressing on your skin.” Days later, the same dream returned — but this time he saw himself handing the child a candle, a small glow in the blackness, and beside the child stood a bicycle.

“It bothered me deeply. I could not ignore it,” Heinrich said.

Confused, he went to a respected elder in the community, shared both dreams, and waited. The elder listened and then told him plainly: “Seun, jy moet lig bring,” (My boy, you must bring light). Heinrich asked how. The answer: “Jy moet jou fiets gebruik.” (You must use your bicycle).

At the time, Heinrich only owned an old courier bike. But word spread, and one day a friend arrived with a proper bicycle — simply saying he felt compelled to help. It was the first of many unexpected acts of generosity.

Heinrich began training alone, praying for strength and guidance. But he knew he needed someone beside him — someone whose presence would help him endure.

That someone was Jan Swarts.