BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Abel & Cole and Re~Cycle have launched a drive to raise £5,000 and collect 650 unwanted bikes for the people of Ghana.
The Wheelie Big Bike Drop, taking place on Saturday October 2nd, is aiming to help Africans through the bike donation. In Ghana a four-hour daily walk to school, work and water is common and bicycles can make a huge difference. Unwanted bikes sitting idle in garages can be dropped off at the firm’s regional depots.
A party on Saturday September 25th will kick off the Wheelie Big Bike Drop initiative, taking place at the firm’s Wimbledon home from 11am until 3pm.
“I’m delighted that the team at Abel & Cole really understand the impact a bike can have to someone in Africa,” enthused Merlin Matthews, founder of Re~Cycle. “We’ll be tracking some of the bikes and seeing what they get used for. This is a great way that a company can help us to help Africans.”
Abel & Cole founder Keith Abel added: “I read about Re~Cycle after a few of us had been lamenting the fact that our vans drove around half empty on the way home…and we like to think of ourselves as a half full bunch. With Re~Cycle we’ve redressed that problem. Mrs Rogers’ Raleigh from Richmond retires to Rwanda…Brilliant.”
Millions of bicycles in the UK are left to rust or get thrown away. Re~Cycle has shipped 34,000 bikes, and tools and spare parts to Africa, where partner organisations refurbish and distribute them.
You can find out more about the worthwhile initiative here – www.abelandcole.co.uk/bigbikedrop
