A Journey of Shared Resilience: Eurokars Group, MG Singapore, and Specialized Support the Specialized Mavericks’ Charity Ride for Tour de Cure

_{^{Left to right: Desmond Cheong (Specialized Asia Pacific), Wilfred Diepeveen (Specialized Mavericks), Charmain Kwee (Eurokars Group), Raymond Ng (Eurokars EV, MG Singapore), Elizabeth Chua (Eurokars EV, MG Singapore), Gem Ng (Eurokars Group), with MG Singapore’s MG M9}}

Eurokars Group and Eurokars EV (MG Singapore) today share the story of an endurance mission for Tour de Cure, a global initiative dedicated to raising vital funds and awareness for cancer research. Although it did not end with a finish line as planned, it concluded with a profound reminder of why we fight. What was planned as a 900+ km cycling odyssey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and back was cut short at 477 km by an unfortunate hit-and-run accident – leaving a community in reflection on the fragile nature of life and the immense strength of those who try to protect it.

 

On 2 April, under the veil of 03:00h, Mr. Wilfred Diepeveen and Mr. James Guardino (Jimmy) of the Specialized Mavericks set off from the MG showroom at 11 Leng Kee Road. They were not just riding against the wind; they were riding for fathers, teammates, and friends facing the reality of cancer.

Leadership on the Power of Resilience

Ms. Charmain Kwee, Group Executive Director and Co-Chair of the Sustainability Working Committee (SWC) at Eurokars Group, shared:

“Life is a fragile tapestry, often defined not by the years we are given, but by the depth of the legacy we leave behind. I was raised with the belief that our true purpose is to care for others, a value my parents instilled in me from a young age. When the Mavericks shared their mission, it resonated with our core commitment to our communities. While the physical journey was interrupted, the endurance of the human will remain unbroken. We are not merely providing logistics; we are honouring the strength it takes to face a difficult journey – whether on the road or in times of need – and helping others to extend their own stories.”

Mr. Raymond Ng, Managing Director of Eurokars EV (MG Singapore), added:

 “As a former endurance athlete, I have a deep respect for the mental grit required to push your body to these limits. At MG Singapore, we were proud to provide the logistical backbone for this trip. Under the dedicated coordination of our marketing team, led by Ms. Elizabeth Chua, we ensured that every detail was seamlessly in place. As the riders set off at 03:00h, the all-electric MG M9 served as the lead support vehicle; its expansive size provided a literal light for their path, while its silent performance allowed the team to stay close without distraction. We are also grateful to our partners at SMIL (SAIC Motor Corporation Limited) for involving MG Melaka, Malaysia, who provided an MGS5 to serve as a local guide and second support vehicle. Their presence was vital in navigating unfamiliar roads and providing the extra traffic control needed to safeguard our cyclists.”

_{^{Front to back: Wilfred Diepeveen (Specialized Mavericks), James Guardino (Specialized Mavericks), MG Melaka’s MGS5 (grey), MG Singapore’s MG M9 (white)}}

The Human Cost of 477 Kilometres

This was an elite undertaking. Jimmy, the 2024 National Masters Road Race Champion and 2025 National Masters Criterium Champion, completed the 420 km leg from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to honour his father, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy. His journey spanned 19.5 hours in total, with 13 hours of elapsed riding time – doubling his previous personal best to turn his exhaustion into a tribute of hope for his family.

_{^{Jimmy Guardino (Specialized Mavericks) and S-Works Tarmac SL8}}

Wilfred, the 2023 National Masters Road Race Champion and 2025 National Masters Gravel Champion, intended to complete the full 900+ km return journey. Having lost a teammate to leukaemia at 15 and witnessed a friend pass from lung cancer, Wilfred’s mission was fuelled by his uncle’s recent ‘incurable’ diagnosis.

_{^{Wilfred Diepeveen (Specialized Mavericks) and MG Singapore’s MG M9}}

Having already broken his own personal best for distance and endurance during the first leg of the trip, Wilfred turned back toward Singapore alone after only three hours of sleep in Kuala Lumpur. He was 477 km into his journey when a speeding motorcyclist’s illegal overtake ended the mission in a split second.

 

Ms. Gem Ng, Head of Group PR and Communications at Eurokars Group, was embedded in the expedition to document the journey in real time, ensuring the riders’ sacrifice and the reality of the cause remained visible to the public.

 “We are so used to the ‘happy endings’ of charity stories where every goal is met, but the reality is often more painful,” said Gem. “I was there to share a story of triumph, but I ended up witnessing a heartbreak. Watching that accident unfold from the support vehicle made me feel like a helpless spectator, mirroring the exact way families feel when they watch a loved one struggle with a diagnosis they cannot control. We did everything to protect them – keeping hazard lights on and guarding every turn – yet you realise that despite your best support, you cannot stop the cruelty of an accident or the suddenness of a disease. Despite the tragedy, we were deeply moved by the bravery of local Malaysian witnesses who immediately gave chase to try and intercept the motorcyclist. That selfless spirit showed us that even when things go wrong, there are always people willing to stand up and fight alongside you.”

United in Technical Excellence and Awareness

Specialized Singapore ensured the riders were equipped with the very best, including the S-Works Roubaix SL8. Mr. Desmond Cheong, Head of Singapore and Malaysia Owned Retail at Specialized Asia Pacific, took an active role in the mission’s safety by co-driving the MG M9 throughout the journey.

 

“Co-driving the support vehicle, I saw the raw grit it takes to keep your legs moving when your muscles are cramping and screaming to stop, yet Wilfred and Jimmy never let their average speed drop,” Desmond shared. “The support vehicles acted as a rolling sanctuary, allowing them to ride side by side whenever the road was clear. In those gruelling hours, being able to look over and see your teammate right there, rather than staring at a lone back wheel in a single file, was the only thing that kept their spirits from breaking. At Specialized, if it is within our abilities to help, we will always step forward. We are currently displaying the S-Works Roubaix at Specialized Figaro, where a portion of its sale will go directly to Tour de Cure, ensuring this journey continues to make an impact.”

_{^{S-Works Roubaix SL8 and MG Singapore’s MG M9, with Tour de Cure decals.}}

The campaign’s momentum was built through the pre-event support of MG Brand Ambassador Ms. Sonia Chew, who used her platform on 987FM to broadcast the Specialized Mavericks’ mission and rally the community before the riders set off.

_{^{Left to right: Sonia Chew (MG Singapore Brand Ambassador), Gem Ng, Wilfred Diepeveen, Desmond Cheong, MG M9}}

The journey concluded with a gathering at the MG Singapore showroom. Though the cyclists were prevented from reaching their final destination, the community came together to mark the completion of a mission that transcended distance. There was no medal for this Tour de Cure, but every heart in the room understood that every single pedal stroke had brought the community closer to a cure – and that in the fight against cancer, no one ever rides alone.

_{^{Specialized Mavericks team alongside Elizabeth Chua (Eurokars EV, MG Singapore), Gem Ng (Eurokars Group) and Wilfred Diepeveen’s family members at MG Singapore Showroom (11 Leng Kee Road)}}

---

About Eurokars Group

 

Eurokars Group is synonymous with premium automotive brands in Singapore and houses a diverse variety of luxury marques with its own unique branding and positioning, maintaining a unified purpose of delivering exceptional automotive experiences. With more than 40 years of market representation, and industry accolades from Enterprise 50 and Superbrands, Eurokars Group is a well-established automotive industry leader, having grown over the years from a niche sports car retailer to a multi-franchise automotive dealership group – headquartered in Singapore with strong operational presence in Indonesia, China and Australia.

 

Eurokars Group was founded by respected entrepreneur, Mr. Karsono Kwee, who as Executive Chairman of the Group, is driven by a genuine passion for motorcars and has transformed the business into a well-diversified and leading customer-oriented dealer of premium automobile brands in the region.

 

 

About MG Singapore

 

Founded in 1924 in Oxford, England, Morris Garages (MG) is a globally recognised automotive brand with more than a century of history and innovation. Known for its iconic British design and sporting DNA, MG has evolved into a forward-looking marque that combines style, performance, and accessibility. Today, MG is part of SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, and offers a diverse line-up of vehicles including hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, and electric models.

 

In Singapore, MG is represented by Eurokars EV Pte Ltd, a member of the Eurokars Group. With a growing range of electric and hybrid vehicles such as the MG4 EV, MG Cyberster, and MGS5 SUV, MG is committed to supporting Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 and providing customers with smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable mobility choices.

 

 

About Specialized

 

We are riders - that fact has guided our every decision since 1974. When quality tires weren’t around, we strove to make the best. When people wanted to ride cruisers in the dirt, we made the first production mountain bike. When roadies wanted to go faster, we doubled-down on carbon and built our own wind tunnel. And when we saw kids struggling to focus in school, we began supporting Outride to help promote better health through cycling.

 

Specialized. Made for riders, by riders.

 

We are Specialized.

About Tour de Cure

 

Founded in 2007, Tour de Cure is an Australian charity that has raised over $158 million for cancer research, support, and prevention. Their mission, ‘Curing Cancer, Changing Lives’, has funded over 1,200 projects and contributed to 231 scientific breakthroughs.