Earlier this month, the Montessori Family School Upper Elementary Class of El Cerrito, California hosted a Restaurant Night to raise money and awareness for World Bicycle Relief. This student-planned event is hosted every year in benefit of a different charity. When one of the students read an article earlier this year about World Bicycle Relief's work, the decision was unaminimous--WBR would be the recipient of their upcoming Restaurant Night.

With Restaurant Night, the students create the experience of coming to a fully functional restaurant for parents and staff. They work hard to design an impressive menu and a comfortable environment, then put their plan into action by doing all the cooking and serving. They even provide a unique benefit that you won't find at a normal restaurant--childcare! Restaurant Night guests donate ahead of time for their ticket to the evening. This year, by the time the students' restaurant doors opened, they had raised $2,800 to benefit WBR.

Sixth grade student Khalil Laltoo stated, “It’s a lot of hard work, but it pays off in the end. I feel good knowing we can change someone’s life.”  

WBR is so honored that the students of Montessori Family School worked so hard to share the Power of Bicycles. What a great event for Bike Month 2012!

Use your next group event to support WBR>

Teri Smith is setting the standard for giving back as she prepares for this year's Red-Bell 100. As team captain of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) team, Teri is rallying support for both World Bicycle Relief and Cascade Bicycle Club through her combined passion for riding and helping those in need. 

The Red-Bell 100, coming up this June in Washington state, is Teri's first organized ride and first century ride! Teri notes that her ten years working for BMGF has taught her the true art of giving. Now, she's ecstatic to apply those lessons alongside her love of cycling. She states, "I am in full support of what WBR is doing in Africa by providing bicycles to students and believe that improving access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity (especially to the large number of girls) is fantastic." Teri is also using the event to commemorate a milestone birthday--she turns 50 this month. She's excited to celebrate her big day riding along the rural back roads, and enjoying the catered rest stops and post-ride party in Bellingham with family and friends.

So far, Teri has raised a whopping $1,750 for her ride--and that's before BMGF's contributes their matching donation. World Bicycle Relief is honored to have support from passionate individuals like Teri and all the others working to raise support for WBR through the Red-Bell 100. 

Check out Teri and other Red-Bell riders' fundraising pages>

Team WBR member Chris Horner wins last year's Tour of California.

World Bicycle Relief is excited to announce that we will officially be represented at the 2012 Amgen Tour of California. We’re excited to share our calendar of events with you in the hopes that we’ll meet many World Bicycle Relief enthusiasts  at “America’s Greatest Race” as it makes its way through California!

Sunday, May 13,  Santa, Rosa, CA: If you want to catch some of the action on Day 1 of the race, be sure to swing by our tent at the Amgen Lifestyle Festival to see a World Bicycle Relief bicycle, learn more about our brand new Team World Bicycle Relief and how you can race and raise support on behalf of WBR alongside Chris Horner--last year’s race champion and member of team WBR! You will also have the chance to sample our new Theo+WBR dark chocolate bar!

Monday, May  14,  Santa Cruz, CA: Spectators are invited to swing by our tent at the Amgen Lifestyle Festival to see a World Bicycle Relief bike, learn more about our brand new Team World Bicycle Relief and how you can race and raise support on behalf of WBR alongside Chris Horner!  This day will provide another chance to sample our new Theo+WBR dark chocolate bar!

Tuesday, May 15, La Dolce Velo, San Jose, CA: Join us for a special event at this store at 8am. Attendees will learn more about World Bicycle Relief, enter to win a handmade Zipp clock and participate in a group ride to a viewing point along that day’s stage. Join us there and support La Dolce Velo’s effort to support WBR.

If you want to virtually support World Bicycle Relief’s experience at the Amgen Tour of CA, check out Optum Pro Cycling team’s effort for WBR. The Optum crew will be racing in the tour and one of its  members, Tom Zirbel, is doing a very specific hair-raising fundraiser that will conclude on Thursday, May 17–Stage 5 of the race. Learn more about the team’s effort today and support Tom’s curls here!

Optum Pro Cycling Team

Over the years, the World Bicycle Relief Grassroots Team has been fortunate to work with a wide variety of amazing athletes who dedicate their athletic endeavors and personal challenges to sharing the Power of Bicycles.  Every day, cyclists are going the distance (to all 50 states, across Asia, Africa and more), racing cyclocross bikes through the mud, competing in triathlons and tackling challenges they never thought possible--all in support of World Bicycle Relief. In recognition of these amazing supporters, it is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of our new Team WBR!

Led by outstanding professional athlete ambassadors Chris Horner (Tour of California champion; Tour de France top-ten contender) and Jordan Rapp (Long-Distance Triathlon World Champion; multiple-time Ironman Champion), Team WBR is an exciting new way to grow support for World Bicycle Relief in connection to your upcoming athletic challenge. In a recent interview with LAVA Magazine, Rapp shares about his experience racing for WBR and the positive impact it has had on his performance.

Whether it’s a century ride, triathlon, cross country ride, your entire racing season or anything in between, racing for Team WBR is a fun and rewarding way to fly our colors and add purpose to your training. By joining Team WBR, you will be provided with the tools and platform for achieving success in your fundraising as well as some members-only benefits to show your support along the way. 

So, interested in becoming part of our team? Here’s how:

Envision your next athletic challenge and commit to racing or riding on behalf of World Bicycle Relief.

Sign up with a $35 contribution to receive a Team WBR t-shirt, WBR jersey bin to keep your phone/money safe and dry while riding, customizable fundraising page on the WBR website, and grassroots toolkit full of materials and resources to get your efforts going.  Also, get 15% off World Bicycle Relief store merchandise (our new cycling and tri kits will provide a good start to your shopping)!

Share your efforts online with friends and family to reach your goal.

See you at the races!

In recognition of Jacob and his contribution to the BMFG event with his film, we asked Jacob to share more about his journey and the story behind the film. Here’s his story in his own words….

June 2010

My brother Isaac and I shiver in the brisk pre-dawn air, framing a shot of three thatched huts. My hands fumble with the camera dials. I can see my breath. Turns out it’s not always shorts weather here in Chongwe. Ian, our director of photography, is inside filming Fred getting ready for the day. Chickens and game hens call for breakfast. The sunrise is stunning. Good morning, Zambia. The Lion King has nothing on you.

Then it hits me. Zambia? What the heck are we doing here? A year ago, none of us could have pointed out Zambia on a map, let alone explained how the bicycle is changing the life of Fred, the local health worker who now finds himself on the other side of our cameras.

Sure, we grew up riding bikes. On weekends, on singletrack, or to school—if it wasn’t raining. But it wasn’t until a college semester spent working in Rwanda that I began to understand what World Bicycle Relief calls “the Power of Bicycles”--how something that Isaac, Ian, and I took for granted growing up can have a life-changing impact on millions across the globe.

That semester abroad planted the seed that became With My Own Two Wheels, a documentary about the bicycle as a vehicle for change. Over the summer of 2010, the three of us traveled around the world to capture stories of individuals whose lives have been fundamentally improved by the bicycle. As these stories came together in post-production, we realized we had the makings of something big.

May 2012

World Bicycle Relief’s Mike Kollins and I set up a lunchtime screening of the film at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation? It hits me again. What are we doing here? We were supposed to do a small screening tour in 2011, and then move on to the next film. But Fred, Mirriam, Bharati, Carlos, and Sharkey—the individuals profiled in the film—have taken us far beyond that.

Since its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, With My Own Two Wheels has shown over 100 times on six continents. It has played for sold-out audiences at Mountainfilm in Telluride, for staffers at the World Bank and U.S. House of Representatives, on a 40-foot screen in São Paulo, Brazil, and to over 1,000 students in one week in Tucson.

Stories like Fred’s—stories of empowerment and change—have inspired audiences young and old to donate $35,000 and counting to World Bicycle Relief. Piggy banks have been smashed. Allowances saved. And now, students at two schools in Zambia can ride to school instead of walk.

I hope that Fred and the other individuals in the film know the impact they have had and continue to have on anyone who takes the time to sit down, listen, and start pedaling. As filmmakers, all we can do is say thank you.

Thank you Fred, Mirriam, Bharati, Carlos, and Sharkey for opening our eyes to the Power of Bicycles.

Learn More About the Film>

Check out WBR's Classroom Companion to bring With My Own Two Wheels and the Power of Bicycles into classrooms across all subject areas. If you would like a copy of the Companion or would like to show With My Own Two Wheels in your school or community, please contact Jacob Seigel-Boettner at withmyowntwowheels@gmail.com.

It was this time a year ago that I invited you to “pedal it forward” and become active in our vast, growing network of volunteer fundraisers. I’m pleased and proud to share that since then our WBR volunteers have come together to raise over $1,100,000 in the past 12 months, putting well over 8,000 bikes into the communities we serve. So, in creating tradition, I write again to thank the many of you who are tirelessly creating awareness and fundraising on our behalf and to invite the many others of you to Join the Revolution. Here’s what I mean by that--ever heard the popular saying“Life belongs to those who show up”? At WBR, we believe that’s just half of it. To us, the complete saying should be extended to “Life truly belongs to those who not only show up… but those who also ask for what they want.” So, with that, I’ll ask you what I want for your part in the Power of Bicycles. Here’s how you can do more than just show up--here’s how you can Join the Revolution:

1. Participate in our Better Than Walking Challenge throughout May to have an inside understanding of WBR’s programs and the associated recipients. Sign up today to have the opportunity to complete five unique challenges that will create a bridge from you to our recipients around the world. In return, we’ll send you a fun prize at the end! We’ll also be sharing photos and stories of our Better than Walking participants throughout the month in our social media community. Join our effort and tag World Bicycle Relief in photos on facebook and/or use @powerofbicycles and #betterthanwalking on twitter.


2. Join our new Team WBR! Professional and amateur athletes around the world are taking their passion for sport and using it for good. Join other star athletes to become a part of Team WBR and commit to using your athletic events to raise funds for our work. Sign up today and start sharing the Power of Bicycles. More exciting information will follow throughout the month so please stay tuned as we unveil our celebrity ambassadors who’ve already joined our team!


3. Looking to take on the milestone of riding your bike 100 miles this summer? Why not join WBR in one of our signature events, the World Bicycle Relief Red-Bell 100, happening in Seattle on Saturday, June 30 or our Third Annual Wrigley Field Road Tour happening in Chicago on Sunday, August 19. With each ride, you’ll have the opportunity to cycle alongside others who are passionate about WBR and the Power of Bicycles!

In closing, I want to share the following photo with you. Last October, for the first time, I had an opportunity to visit Zambia and participate in one of WBR’s distributions at a school. The experience was stunning. After spreading the pPower of Bicycles for over four years and tirelessly promoting WBR’s mission, I had the precious chance to literally hand over a WBR bicycle to a student recipient. After having that experience, I posted this photo to Facebook with the caption, “Today we delivered bicycles to students at the Sichimbwali School in Choma. I represented all of you who participate in our volunteer network. No matter if you’ve helped raise funds for one bike or a few hundred, you were at this distribution in spirit and this moment was shared with you.” So, on that note, I’ll sign off with that perfect image in my mind, knowing that someone somewhere is receiving a bicycle…all because of you.

Please celebrate Bike Month alongside World Bicycle Relief this month: Join the Revolution and share The Power of Bicycles.

Katie Bolling
Grassroots Development Director

As people around the globe prepare to celebrate Earth Day April 22, 2012 World Bicycle Relief is thrilled to share our newest program and partnership with two leading South African non-profit organizations, Qhubeka and the Wildlands Conservation Trust. This partnership builds on Qhubeka's and Wildlands' innovative Trees-for-Bikes and Trash-for-Bikes programs which stress a "hand-up not hand-out" approach. In the Trees-for-Bikes program, a child can earn a bicycle by planting and nurturing 150 saplings. The bicycle they receive, in exchange for their trees, enables the student to commute to school quickly and safely.  South African high school students have planted hundreds of thousands of trees through this program and Dr. Andrew Venter, Executive Director at Wildlands, believes their work will inspire everyone in South Africa who is committed to making a difference for the environment.

Watch this video and learn more about how students are preserving the environment and earning World Bicycle Relief bicycles in return.

World Bicycle Relief is proud to supply bicycles for this innovative program. Our goal is to distribute 10,000 bicycles through the Trees-for-Bikes and Trash-for-Bikes programs in 2012. Help us reach our goal >

Bicycles utilized for the Trees-for-Bikes and Trash-for-Bikes programs are assembled in our newest facility in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Learn the story of our Zulu women assemblers in this short video.

As Bike Month quickly approaches this May, we are pleased to offer a unique opportunity for fundraisers to sell the Theo World Bicycle Relief chocolate bar to collect donations. Purchase the bars at a discounted rate of $36 a case ($3 a bar), sell the bars for $5 each, and then donate the proceeds to your personal fundraising page!

Download the Theo + WBR chocolate fundraiser order form

Want to try out the perfect blend of sea salt and dark chocolate? Place your order on the Theo website, visit your nearest REI store, or look to see if a local retalier near you has the bar in stock (and if they don't, suggest that they check it out!).

Own a bike shop, coffee shop, grocery store or other local business that would like to carry the Theo World Bicycle Relief chocolate bar? Contact us for more info!

World Bicycle Relief visitors in Zambia wear Theo Chocolate t-shirts.

This week (March 25-April 1), Bart Brentjens of the Milka Superior MTB Racing Team and Jason Sager of Team Jamis are undertaking mountain biking’s most challenging race--The ABSA Cape Epic in efforts to raise funds and awareness for World Bicycle Relief’s newest and most exciting African program--a partnership with the South African based Qhubeka and Wildlands Conservation Trust.

Sager and his teammate Justin Lindine shared the heartfelt story of their decision to race the grueling, 8-day ABSA Cape Epic. Sager explained, "Racing for World Bicycle Relief programs gives us a purpose…leaving bikes behind as a product of our fans' donations is one of the most tangible changes you can have on a community."

More about Team Jamis' fundraising efforts >

Sager and Team Jamis will be posting daily updates from this year’s race at cyclingnews.com, as well as highlighting World Bicycle Relief programming and South African news along the way. Team Jamis members are sporting a special edition WBR jersey that fans are invited to purchase–a portion of all jersey sales will be donated to World Bicycle Relief. 

Womens' Jersey >
Mens' Jersey >

Alongside Team Jamis' efforts, Bart Brentjens returns with his third annual Cape Epic Challenge Raffle. Last year, a team, including Brentjens, raised $94,000 for World Bicycle Relief! This year, for every $5 donation through his WBR fundraising page, participants will be entered into a raffle to win fantastic prizes including jerseys, t-shirts, performance packages, tires, and more!

Brentjens and The Milka Superior Team will field two teams at this year’s Cape Epic. Bart and teammate Jan Weevers will take on the Master’s category, with Jeroen Boelen and Chris Jongewaard racing in the Pro category. Bart says, "It makes a huge difference if you have to walk or if you have a bike for transportation. Because I ride my bike every day, I know what that means. If you have to walk home for 10 kilometers because of a flat tire, it  takes you quite a long time. But when you ride your bike it’s easy. And besides that, think about all the stuff that you can take on your bike. It is like a steel horse!”

World Bicycle Relief wishes both teams the best of luck on this year's Cape Epic and is tremendously grateful for their support.

When Mrs. Raddish opened a unit on Africa in her sixth-grade social studies class at Green Intermediate School in Green, Ohio, she had no idea what it would inspire. But just a few months after her social studies lesson, she and her students had successfully raised over $800 for World Bicycle Relief.

Mrs. Raddish began her unit on Africa in November of 2011. Upon showing her students photos from a friends' trip to a remote village in Africa, she found that they were particularly saddened by the water conditions that they saw. In class, they began to discuss the issues related to poor water quality in many impoverished regions, as well as the difficulty for many people to access clean water where it was available. 

So, the sixth graders at Green Intermediate decided they wanted to go beyond their classroom studies and do something to provide clean water in Africa. Guided by Mrs. Raddish, the students researched to find an organization that helps people access water in a long-lasting, comprehensive way. While surfing the web they discovered several organizations of interest, but World Bicycle Relief was the one that stood out. They chose World Bicycle Relief because it not only provides bikes that can be used to retrieve water, but also access to school, medical assistance, and general mobility.

As the students learned more about WBR, they decided to host a school-wide fundraiser. They sold bottles of water with flavor packets--a great, healthy drink to have at school while bringing the issue of poor water quality to the forefront. One family donated the bottles of water and another the flavor packets so they could sell them at school and donate all the proceeds to World Bicycle Relief. The fundraiser was a huge success--the entire school was involved, and out of the nearly 1,000 bottles of water they started with, only 30 were left at the end of the event! Green Intermediate School raised $815 for World Bicycle Relief.

The students were excited that their funds raised could help provide bicycles to students, and even a WBR field mechanic. They were particularly interested to learn that not only can bikes help people access water, but that a well-trained, local mechanic is key to keeping those bikes moving in order to reach that water. What started with a lesson in social studies class, broadened to a more in-depth understanding of the world and a newfound passion for helping others in a sustainable way. 

Mrs. Raddish commented on her students' efforts, "I am so proud of our students’ determination and passion to make such a project possible. It has been wonderful to be able to facilitate this fundraiser and see the kids take pride in helping others." She hopes to make this fundraiser an annual event with her students.

Plan an event of your own and help share the Power of Bicycles!

This year, cyclists in 21 cities throughout the US and Canada will hit the streets for The Urban Bike Adventure, a funky bike race made up of obstacles, scavenger hunts, and racing challenges.  This year, WBR is proud to be the National Charity Partner for The Urban Bike Adventure!

Kicking off in Tampa this month, The Urban Bike Adventure invites participants of all ages and skill who want to use both their brains and their braun to complete the challenge. Starting off with riddles and puzzles, the race provides a series of choose-your-own-adventure style clues to lead teams from one checkpoint to the next. Cyclists will be presented with various wild and crazy challenges at each checkpoint before they can proceed. After crossing the finish line, it's off to the after party where raffles, goodies, and an awards ceremony await.

Jason Kelly, one of the coordinators of the series, describes the adventure: "Most teams participate just for the laughs and memories of discovering the city in a new way, but some will compete to win it all. Either way, a lot of our participants will forget they’re even in a race and discover urban biking is safe, efficient and a fun way to enjoy the city." He notes that The Urban Bike Adventure is meant to show people that biking promotes a healthy lifestyle, saves gas money, and helps the environment, to name a few. They have created this off the wall event to expose participants to biking in an urban setting. Jason adds, "We want to bring awareness to the biking community and those not yet exposed to the benefits of cycling. With our events, we hope to advocate for safer roads for cyclists and education for drivers."

The Urban Bike Adventure has chosen to support World Bicycle Relief because of their advocacy of cycling and encouragement of bicycle education. WBR aligns with the Urban Bike Adventure's belief that bicycles play an instrumental part in everyday life.  Participants are encouraged to get involved and help The Urban Bike Adventure reach it's fundraising goal of $5,000 for World Bicycle Relief.

Find The Urban Bike Adventure in a city near you>

Follow The Adventure on Twitter>

Join The Adventure on Facebook>

The Ride of the Falling Rain | The Tweed Run

It's official. World Bicycle Relief has successfully registered for charitable status in the United Kingdom! The ever increasing number of WBR supporters world wide have made this exciting growth possible.

The pioneering efforts of both individual and corporate UK supporters have set the foundation upon which we are excited to build a strong and fruitful presence. The following pioneers demonstrate just a portion of the incredible generosity of the people of the UK:

• British Cyclocross National Champion, Helen Wyman, raised funds by selling one of her Kona race bikes via an eBay auction
• Brian Palmer has now listed World Bicycle Relief as the official charity benefactor of Ride of the Falling Rain in Scotland for two years in a row
• The hi-viz experts, Proviz, donate a portion of every sale to World Bicycle Relief
• The Tweed Run in London welcomes a bit of World Bicycle Relief safari flare to its standard tweed attire
• Isla Bikes donates a percentage of its profit to World Bicycle Relief on a quarterly basis

It is because of WBR enthusiasts such as these that residents of the UK will now be able to provide bicycles to students in rural Africa with the benefits of a tax deduction through the World Bicycle Relief Virgin Money Giving Page.

To celebrate and kick off the launch of World Bicycle Relief UK, founder FK Day will be speaking at an informal gathering in London on Wednesday, February 22 at the cycling café Look Mum No Hands from 4-5:30 p.m. Day will discuss WBR’s Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP) and the life changing impact bicycles are creating in the developing world. We welcome and encourage anyone who is able, to join us for this special celebration in the history of World Bicycle Relief!

For questions on how to get involved with World Bicycle Relief UK please contact Rebecca Much at rmuch@worldbicyclerelief.org

BOOM Cycling of Miami, Florida is setting the standard in the cycling industry in their support of World Bicycle Relief—for every BOOM Bike sold, they are donating one bike to WBR!

BOOM Cycling was born from a couple's passion for cycling. They not only design, build and manufacture race bike platforms, but they share their resources both locally and globally through their massive support of WBR and another organization, Blue Star Cycling Development Team (BSCDT). BSCDT’s mission is to support talented juniors, ages 14-18, to grow a successful cycling career and allow them to earn scholarships in universities that consider cycling a varsity sport. In addition to their contributions to WBR for every bike sold, net proceeds from their sales go toward helping the BSCTD.

Founder Erica Boom was introduced to WBR at Interbike 2011, immediately falling in love with the cause because of the mash-up of cycling and support of women and girls.  Erica has long been an advocate for women, helping to found Belly & Kicks, an organization that focuses on fitness for women during and after pregnancy, and Rosebandits, the only all-girl cycling team in the state of Florida.  Noting that 70% of the students who receive a WBR bike are girls, Erica knew it would be a perfect partnership.

“We believe that cycling is not only the hardest sport on earth, but it is also an art,” Erica said. So, BOOM designs their bikes to blend the two – artistic creations resulting in an elevation of riding power and handling for the cyclist.  They offer three road frame models, as well as custom colors.  Their excellence in bike design combined with their social cause has been a huge driver for local cycling and triathlon teams coming to BOOM for custom bicycles.

Now that's The "BOOM BOOM POW^(er)" of Bicycles at work!

It is hard to beat the quality of bicycle repair and maintenance provided by The Service Course in Boulder, Colorado. Started by two former ProTour race mechanics, Daimeon Shanks and Nick Legan, The Service Course has long supported  World Bicycle Relief.  Out of this support came a new idea--The Service Course | World Bicycle Relief Cyclocross Team. Wanting to avoid the pitfalls of overly competitive riders and failed sponsorships, Shanks decided that the perfect way to ensure a good-hearted, joyful team was to direct all sponsorship dollars and team fee proceeds to The Service Course’s official charity of choice: World Bicycle Relief!

Each team sponsor was asked to donate one WBR bike ($134) in exchange for a spot on the gingham team jersey and recognition as a team supporter. Additionally, each member contributed a $150 team fee to benefit World Bicycle Relief. This strategy allowed these fun-loving cyclocrossers the chance to race with the knowledge that their efforts helped provide 15 bicycles  to students in rural Africa. The team also flew the WBR flag and handed out literature and stickers throughout the season, helping to raise awareness for the organization.

Team members Kate Powlison and Doug Gillespie led the way with side projects to further unify the team. Powlison created handmade matching gingham team handkerchiefs (well sported on the team dogs!) and Powlison and Gillespie made custom WBR cowbells which they sold at the official team race – The Boulder Cup – for a $5 donation to WBR.

What motivated Shanks to create this team?  He noted, “When Nick and I started The Service Course we knew two things to be true. First, we stood to provide the same level of bicycle service that riders such as Christian Vande Velde, Lance Armstrong, Tyler Farrar, and Tom Danielson rely on. Second, we made the commitment to give back, and what better way to achieve that than by forming a cyclocross team which would give riders a sense of goodwill, joy, and the satisfaction of having made the difference in the life of a young student.”

A big thanks to The Service Course and the team for their creativity, initiative, and support all season long!

WBR Africa Director Dave Neiswander with President George W. Bush in Lusaka, Zambia.
Photo: Judith Robb-Mccord

Dave Neiswander, World Bicycle Relief's Africa Director, was recently featured in his hometown's newspaper for his impactful work providing bicycles in Africa. Dave learned about WBR after traveling to Angola on a safari, when he met co-founders F.K. and Leah Day.  Upon learning about their work with SRAM and WBR, Dave knew he wanted to be a involved with the organization.

Since working in Zambia as WBR's Africa Director, Dave has provided incredible leadership of WBR's bicycle prorams and improved the lives of students, healthcare workers and entreprenuers across Africa. In December 2011, he had the pleasure of sharing WBR's work with President George W. Bush and family as they visited Zambia.  President Bush has been heavily involved in Africa, especially since he instituted the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2004. He continues to visit on a regular basis to support aid programs throughout the continent. Dave noted, "The president was very engaging and insightful as to aid to Africa. I was impressed with his knowledge and perspective on how to move the continent forward. A cyclist himself, President Bush was impressed by our bicycles and the programs World Bicycle Relief is doing."

Read the full article >

In the long Vermont winter, amidst temperatures as severe as ten below zero, nine-year-old Griffin Donovan is riding his bike to school….every day. Since December 1, 2011, Griffin has biked three miles each way to and from his school to raise awareness and funds for World Bicycle Relief.

Griffin was inspired to support WBR through a teacher at his Waldorf School—A South African who shared that his daughter had to walk four miles to school each day, often arriving late and causing anger among her instructors. This story motivated Griffin to reach out in a way that would help children like her get to school more easily and efficiently. So, he partnered with WBR to raise money by cycling through ice and snow to get his community’s attention! So far, Griffin has raised $1,541 and is almost to his goal of $2,000.

Griffin rides in a bright orange jacket with a flashing light on his helmet, dodging snow banks and ice patches along his three mile journey each day. He even rides in the rain. Griffin states, “Sometimes it is very windy, sometimes it is snowing and sometimes it is so icy on the sidewalk that I have to bike in the road. But I feel happy every day that I bike because I know other kids will get bikes. I am going to try to keep biking every day until I have reached my goal.”

Help Griffin reach his goal >

Professional Triathlete Jordan Rapp doesn’t win Ironman events for all the glory – he wins them for a cause. Including 2009 Ironman Arizona and 2009 and 2011 Ironman Canada, Jordan’s Ironman victories have left an imprint in communities in rural Zambia through his annual Rappstar Charity Challenge for World Bicycle Relief (WBR).

WBR first met Jordan at Interbike 2009 when Zipp invited their sponsored athletes to sign autographs at the WBR booth. Jordan was clearly inspired by WBR’s work--so much so that only two weeks later Jordan had an amazing fundraising challenge up and running. Katie Bolling, Director of Grassroots Fundraising for World Bicycle Relief said of Jordan, “To say it was impressive to see an athlete at his level dedicate time to our mission is an understatement. Jordan was a living testimony that, despite how busy we think we are, there is always time to give back.”

Congratulations to Rapp for being named a 2011 Top-10 Triathlete!

In 2009, Jordan set a fundraising goal of $15,000--enough to fund 100 bikes and the training of two field mechanics through WBR’s Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP). The program, which will provide 50,000 bikes to rural secondary-aged school students in Zambia, has already placed over 16,000 bikes in the field to assist children getting to school.  Jordan surpassed his goal and ultimately raised $23,000!

Coming off two major victories in 2009, 2010 looked like another promising year for Rapp’s career. However, in March of 2010, Jordan suffered a major setback when he was involved in a nearly fatal hit-and-run bicycle accident in California. “From that point on, there was no talk of his charity challenge or racing,” said Bolling, “the entire SRAM, Zipp and WBR family were just concerned for Jordan’s well being. We were extremely happy to learn that he would regain his health”. And regain his health he did – only 8 months later, Jordan was not only lined up for the 2010 Ironman Arizona but was already planning his second annual Rappstar Charity Challenge for WBR. In 2010, he engaged his sponsors and supporters to a new standard and went on to raise $37,905 while finishing with an impressive 4th place in Arizona.

Now, at the close of 2011, Jordan has nearly reached the $100,000 mark for his total fundraising number for WBR. Coming off major victories at both 2011 Ironman Canada and ITU Long Course World Championships, his 3rd annual Rappstar Charity Challenge for WBR was poised for success with a win in Arizona looking like a strong possibility.  While plans changed on race day due to an unfortunate stomach bug, Jordan was still considered the champion to WBR as his fundraising totals reached $37,369– his highest number to date. “He’s now funded 712 bikes in Zambia. He’s winning races and changing lives through giving back through what he loves,” says Bolling. “He recognizes that through just $134--the price of one WBR bike and a fraction of the cost of his racing bike--that a life can be changed.  And, he’s involving the entire Ironman community. It’s a special story and we’re very proud to be a part of it.”

This November, The British School Al-Khubairat secondary school in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) selected World Bicycle Relief and Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS), an organization that builds schools in Uganda and Zambia, to benefit from a 24-hour Bike-a-Thon. 

In May 2011, a student committee was formed to organize events and raise awareness of different charities.  When the students heard about WBR, they came up with the idea of a Bike-a-Thon in which students would sign up to cycle during different time slots of a 24-hour period, recruiting sponsors to donate to their cause. The event was completely student-led and highly successful.  By the day of the event, 288 volunteers had signed up to fill a 30-minute cycling slot – enough to keep six bikes going for the entire 24 hours!

On November 28th at 2pm, an ordinary school day at BSAK transformed into an explosion of activity, setting up stationary bikes and even a videoconferencing camera. The first round of cyclists took to their wheels while other peers, parents, and teachers gathered round to cheer them on. 

Over the course of the next 24 hours, the Bike-a-Thon saw sweaty students, cyclists in pajamas, ongoing pizza deliveries, and visits from all sorts of people within the BSAK community.  Many students who had signed up for the overnight slots stayed the entire evening for a “sleepover”, though it did not involve much sleep!  Participant Leya Beidas said of the event, “If somebody told me a month ago that I would be cycling at 2am to benefit charity, I would have laughed at them! However, it became a reality and I loved every second of it.”  Many other students noted that they were excited about being a part of such a unique and fun way to raise money for others.

A live stream was set up at the event so that viewers from all over the world could watch and cheer on the cyclists – WBR and PEAS supporters from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom tuned in over the course of the day to be a part of the inaugural Bike-a-Thon.

At 2pm on the following day, all of the participants were cheered through the finish line as the schools Brass band played “Mission Impossible”.  Overall, the event raised $26,000 USD--an outstanding achievement for a first-time event! The total will be split between the two organizations. Student Joseph Elkadi said, “The 24-hour Bike-a-Thon was by far the most successful and gratifying charity event to take place at the British School Al-Khubairat. The organization and preparation of the event was such a challenging experience that will never be forgotten, nor will the actual event that surely brought the whole school community together under one simple but life-changing cause: Education in Africa.”

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The first Bash for Bikes event took place on December 8th, 2011 at Colorado Multisport in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder has long been known by cyclists, triathletes and runners as the Mecca of endurance sports. The city boasts a plethora of professional cyclists and triathletes that call Boulder home; however, despite their common interest in cycling, these athletes generally remain divided. So it was a very special event when four World Champion cyclists and triathletes sitting at the top of their sport – Taylor Phinney, Mirinda Carfrae, Danny Pate, and Tim O’Donnell – came together to benefit World Bicycle Relief.  The event included a gourmet meal, athlete panel, and both a silent and live auction.

The idea for Bash for Bikes was sparked by an unsuspecting event this past summer -- a lemonade sale hosted by two six year old girls: Amelie Panaccione, the daughter of Colorado Multisport’s co-owners Celesta Howe and Chuck Panaccione, and Lucy Alexander, daughter of Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander. At their lemonade sale, Amelie and Lucy spent the day chasing down customers around their neighborhood, begging people to buy lemonade as a way of supporting World Bicycle Relief and those it benefits -- girl students just like themselves in Africa. The passion of these two young girls inspired Bash for Bikes--an exquisite event hosted by world renowned sports physiologist Allen Lim. 

Bash for Bikes guests enjoyed a five-star, gourmet meal catered by Team Radioshack Chef, Biju Thomas, including empanadas and fresh tostada bar, and delicious Colorado-crafted Ritual Chocolate.  The meal was followed by a lively athlete panel discussion led by the ever-enchanting Lim. Cyclist Taylor Phinney told stories of his grand tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana, his off-season adventures and his plans for racing the 2012 Giro d’Italia. Danny Pate recounted leading out Mark Cavendish at this year’s Tour de France and offered advice to Phinney for the Giro: “It is such a hard race, way harder than the Tour--I feel sorry for you, Taylor!” Triathlete Tim O’Donnell talked about his Ironman debut this year, winning the US National Champion crown, the intense heat of Kona, and his path to professional triathlon in light of his extensive education. Mirinda Carfrae exuded nothing but confidence when talking about her quest to become the queen of Kona’s Ironman competition once again.

Funds raised at Bash for Bikes were due in large part to the incredibly successful auction which featured items generously donated by the full spectrum of the cycling industry, listed below. The evening’s top prize was a home cooked dinner for four with Chef Biju that saw athlete panel members Phinney and O’Donnell dueling for the win! As bids reached the $2,500 mark, Chef Biju kindly offered up a second dinner prize and both parties agreed to pay $2,500 each for the dinner! Needless to say, the athletes all went out of their way to ensure the evening’s success.  Overall, the event raised approximately $17,000. Thanks to a match made by World Bicycle Relief board members through December 31st, all donations made to WBR are matched dollar for dollar, making the Bash for Bikes event a $34,000 success!

A huge shout-out out to Celesta Howe and the entire staff of Colorado Multisport, Allen Lim, Chef Biju, Anna Davies and Robbie Stout of Ritual Chocolate, Danny Pate, Tim O’Donnell, Mirinda Carfrae, and Taylor Phinney, the events’ donors, and all of our industry supporters for their outstanding roles in Bash for Bikes!
Silent Auction donors included: Zipp, Pearl Izumi, Specialized, CatEye, Secret Drink Mix, Newton, Ritual Chocolate, Enduro, Cascade Gran Fondo, Rotor, BMC, Retul, Velo Bling, New Belgium, the Bowhaus, Road ID, and Active at Altitude.

Live Auction items included: An autographed Thor Hushovd World Champion jersey, Zipp Firecrest 404s, Shimano C50s, a SRAM Force TT group, a Cervelo S2 frameset.

Still looking for the perfect holiday gift? Donate a bicycle in honor of friends, family or coworkers and select “Mail a Printed Gift Card” on our donation page. We’ll mail a printed card (shown above and below) to your honoree with your personalized message.

Our gift card features a thank you from Beene, a 16 year old student whose life has recently been changed by The Power of Bicycles. Beene shares her gratitute with the following words:

"I love the donors for this bicycle because they have loved me before."

When we asked what she meant by a donor having loved her "before," student bicycle recipient Beene explained, "Only someone who loves you can give you such a gift before you have even met."

Give the gift of A New Beginning today and give the gift your loved ones will never forget! >

Five days a week, Beene rides her bike 8 kilometers (5 miles) each way to school--a distance she was previously walking.  Beene, a 16-year old girl in grade six at Chikanda Basic School in Kalomo District, Central Zambia, used to suffer significant pain in her legs due to the long distances she walked each day.  Now, she proudly announces that, due to her new bicycle, her legs "pain no more". 

Beene received her World Bicycle Relief bike in May 2011.  For the first time in her life, Beene is able to attend school five days a week. Previously, she could only manage the walk 2-3 times per week, often having to stay home because her legs hurt too badly to make the trip. Now, in addition to outstanding attendance, Beene is able to participate in extra-curricular programs such as inter-school athletics, an activity that she previously had neither time nor energy for.

Thanks to her new bike, not only can Beene attend school every day of the week, but she can complete her homework, as well as assist with her nieces and nephews and other household chores.  Beene is grateful that having her bike allows her to be more punctual and attentive both at school and at home.

Mr. Chitembwa, Beene's teacher at Chikanda Basic School asserts that Beene is now active in class and able to supervise other students. She has greater energy and concentration now that she is able to attend school daily and is less exhausted from walking. Beene's favorite subjects are Social Development Studies and Mathematics. She dreams of being a nurse some day because she wants people to be healthy; a dream that her family wholeheartedly supports.

The leader of Beenes village, Headman Kabumbwe, considers Beene an example of World Bicycle Relief helping people in his village. He is very grateful for the support that has been rendered to children like Beene.

Beene resides with her older sister Monde, along with Monde's husband and their six children.  Beene and Monde's parents are aging and not able to take care of Beene. So when Monde's twins were born in 2006, Beene went to live with her sister to help take care of her new nieces and nephews.  Monde is proud of her sister, stating "Since I am not educated, I want my young sister Beene to be educated so that she can help our family, community, and country."

On non-school days, Beene's duties at home include cooking, bathing the children, sweeping, and fetching water from a well approximately two kilometers from her home. She also works in the family garden where she grows bananas and vegetables.

Beene's bike also has a significant impact on her entire family. Her sister and brother-in-law often use the bicycle for transport to surrounding villages to sell fish, often trading it for maize--a staple food in the region.  Monde noted that she also uses the bicycle to take her small children to the Chilala Rural Health Centre--13 kilometers (8 miles) away from the village. The bicycle makes it possible for Beene's young nieces and nephews to get the medical assistance they need in a timely fashion.

Beene says, "I love the donors for this bicycle because they have loved me before." When asked to explain what she meant by a donor loving "before", she explained how grateful she is that someone would provide her with a bicycle without knowing her in person - "Only someone who loves you can give you such a gift before you have even met."

Give a bicycle and Give A New Beginning to students like Beene.

Watch A New Beginning  >

If you met Mary Mwanza in her local village, you would immediately recognize that she is a young woman who is passionate about her family, her education, and her work. In addition to the daily work of raising a family, Mary also leads a group of youth in developing their gardening skills and sells her own vegetables at market. When her hard work and leadership qualities quickly became evident to Africare, she was selected for World Bicycle Relief’s Field Mechanic Training Program.

That was six months ago. Now, Mary is a successful bike mechanic in her village.

Mary, 22, has now completed 9th grade where she most enjoyed mathematics and art.  She comes from a family of eight and is married with two children, Betty and Joseph.  When asked what her most prized possession is, Mary proclaimed, “Family is what I treasure most.” She was pregnant with her second child when she started her bicycle mechanic training.

Mary says, “The bicycle program has really helped me because from some profit I am able to buy food for my family. I want the bicycle program to prosper so I can have more earning from the same program and serve the community at large.”

She has many clients who are coming to the village to service their bicycles. Mary explained that she plans to grow her business by advertising with the local radio station. She wants people to get to know her because she has “good qualities, good servicing skills – very good.”

Mary tells us that she enjoys the job very much because she is making money. Mary keeps a cashbook where she notes the date of transaction, cash in, cash out and balance. She says, “It is the one way of knowing if really you are progressing or maybe you are making a loss.” Changing spokes, greasing and changing bearings are Mary’s most common repairs.

We could not help but ask her about being a woman in a position generally held by men.  She told us, “Yeah, a lot of people admire my work, because in this village, it is something new for a female or maybe a lady to do bicycle servicing. So they get interested in that. Hence they bring a lot of bicycles to see or maybe to prove if at all I can really do it. To test me!” But has this been good for business? She laughed, “Very good.”

Terri Bidwell, of New Zealand, battles the lava fields on her Ironman race in Hawaii (and rocks the WBR 89,707 tattoo!)

In October, World Bicycle Relief (WBR) attended the 2011 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii to celebrate 89,707 bikes in the field. Nearly 2,000 athletes participating in the Championship were invited to be a part of the growing WBR movement--to funnel their love of cycling into raising awareness and funds to help others. As part of the events in Kona, WBR raffled off a SRAM and Zipp-equipped Cervelo P3 (valued over $9,000)--one of the most loved bikes in all of triathlon. The raffle helped World Bicycle Relief showcase the price contrast of WBR bikes, which cost $134--a fraction of the cost of bikes ridden by Ironman athletes. The Cervelo P3 was valued at the equivalent of 68 WBR bikes. The comparison truly helped the athletes see what an impact they can make by supporting WBR.

Participants spent a lot of time at our booth drooling over the Cervelo, and many raffle tickets (at $25 each) were sold to benefit WBR. There was much anticipation for the drawing and we were pleased to call out Terri Bidwell's name as the winner. Then, something shocking happened--Terri turned down the Cervelo bike! Here’s why….

A few evenings before the drawing, Terri, who hails from New Zealand, visited our booth and was thrilled to see us there, citing WBR as "her favorite charity". Upon purchasing enough raffle tickets to fund an entire bike ($134 worth!), Terri spent time at our booth discussing ideas on how she could better share our work in her community in New Zealand. She also inquired about what it would take for her to have a WBR bike of her own to showcase and use as a tool to rally support for WBR. So, when her winning ticket was pulled, we decided to give her that option. She excitedly chose the $134 WBR bike instead of the $9,000 Cervelo, sharing with us one of FK Day’s (WBR's Founder and President) favorite quotes: “The most powerful bike in the world is not one that weighs 16 pounds, made of carbon and is ridden by professional athletes; it’s a 55 pound steel bike in the hands of a Zambian student fighting for her education.”

Terri has quite a history with her passion for providing bicycles in impoverished regions. She’s an orthopedic surgeon and has traveled and worked in many parts of the world where the bicycle is seen as a too, not as recreational equipment. Terri shared with us one specific experience she had in East Timor, where she was performing surgeries on orphans with orthopedic problems. One day, after a successful surgery, her patient expressed to her that what she and the other orphans truly desired was bicycles. So, Terri and a few others raised funds for three bicycles for the orphanage, to be used for assisting with chores and transportation. Later, when she discovered the work of World Bicycle Relief, she more fully understood the value of not just providing bicycles, but of providing culturally appropriate, robust bicycles. She said that the sustainability of WBR’s bikes is one of the reasons that WBR is on the top of her “favorite charity list”.

Terri also commutes by bike (6 miles each way on a steel bike). So, outside of showcasing her new WBR bike, it just might come in handy for her commute as well!

We are still touched and amazed not only by Terri’s unusual choice of her raffle prize, but by her passion for WBR’s programs. Asked why she chose the WBR bike, Terri stated, “A Cervelo is a very specific machine, very useful for racing in triathlons--but I already own a triathlon bike. On the other hand, the WBR bike can ride almost anywhere--it can transport a child to school and can take goods to a productive market stall. It is a real example of a bicycle that can change the world and I'll love having one in New Zealand to showcase so that others can see it too."

If you are like Terri and want to do something special and significant to incorporate WBR in your racing, please contact Katie Bolling at kbolling@worldbicyclerelief.org.

In grade 7, Tendai used to walk seven kilometers to Chiota Basic School twice a day passing nothing but bush and a few other households. “If I run, it will take one hour. If I walk it will take two.” She was usually late for school. Her family lives upstream from any water source. There is not a market, church nor clinic along the way--not even a tomato stand. All goods or services are even further down the road from school. “On the walk home, I see people I don’t know. I fear they might get me to go somewhere. They say bad manners like ‘I want you.’ I refuse. They want me to be their girlfriend.”

She continues, “When I told my family I was getting a bicycle they were very happy. They said it’s good; you should not be late to school. I will use it on the weekends to go and visit my mother who is sick and brothers in Susana [where] it takes me five to six hours walking. I will also go and sell some vegetables.”

Zambian students sit for exams during grades 7 and 9. The WBR bike that Tendai received during grade 7 helped her pass these grueling tests and graduate with honors by providing her much needed transportation back and forth for afterschool prep classes. “This World Bicycle Relief bicycle actually made me get to school very easily and much much quicker you know, because now I can get to class in time and have enough time to study and concentrate on my studies. I easily come back home to do all my work and sleep without getting too tired. I’m also able to do other house chores like going to draw and carry water using this same bicycle.”

Today Tendai is in grade 9 at Chongwe Basic School, much closer to town, while living with her Uncle Lovemore and his family rather than her Uncle James and Grandmother Phiri. She walks only 1 kilometer. Her new home is under construction and already beautiful. Here she has less household responsibilities with greater access to water and far more time for school.

For girls like Tendai a bicycle is an interesting object to own. Generally, in a developing country like Zambia, a bike gives a person the type of status westerners have when we drive a very fancy automobile. In the hands of a school-aged girl, like Tendai, her value is elevated. Uncle James now borrows her bicycle to stay with and care for her Grandmother. “When he returns he gives me some of the money which he has raised. With the little money that I get, I buy books for school, or detergent paste to help me wash my clothes.” Tendai is accepted into Uncle Lovemore’s family, which eases her journey in another way. Not only is she closer to her current school but she now also has assurance that she will attend high school and be that much closer to achieving her goal of becoming an English teacher.

She says,"Teachers do a great job, so when I finish school I will go to a teachers’ college and become a teacher, and I would love to come and teach the young ones here.....what I can say about World Bicycle Relief is thank you very much for what they did for me and my other schoolmates who received these wonderful gifts. I used to suffer so much when going to school. We had to walk very long distances. But ever since they gave us these bicycles, we have had it much easier to get to our school and had enough time to read, study and concentrate on our schoolwork without much problems. Even when our teachers are teaching, we actually concentrate more so we are very grateful to World Bicycle Relief.”

Story and Photos by Leah Missbach Day

The 2^nd Annual Peloton of Awesome | October 1, 2011 | Washington, D.C.

At this time last year, Miriam Schwedt and Katie Heller connected with World Bicycle Relief looking to give back after having participated in a group ride for Miriam’s birthday with all of their friends. The duo then formed Katie and Miriam’s Peloton of Awesome, and enjoyed a perfect fall bike ride with a mass of happy D.C. area cyclists in support of World Bicycle Relief. Miriam and Katie were back again this year with the help of WBR super supporter, Blake Selzer, to create the 2^nd Annual Peloton of Awesome. This year’s Peloton of Awesome featured slightly less appealing weather than the past edition, however, the group raised over $7,000 (about 52 WBR bikes!) and saw 96 people register for the 20-mile ride. Of course, what better way to end a ride than a happy hour? Local 16 kindly hosted the Peloton of Awesome participants and donated 10% of their happy hour sales to WBR as well. Awesome!

Jesse Anthony’s Cyclocross Retirement | October 1 & 2, 2011 | Gloucester, MA

Jesse Anthony, professional cyclist with the Kelly Benefits Strategies – OptumHealth Team, announced his retirement from cyclocross this September. After a wildly successful 2011 season racing bicycles on the road which saw him on the top step of the podium several times this year, the 7-time Cyclocross National Champion decided to hang up his mud tires. The upside? After participating at WBR’s Racing ‘Cross for a Cause campaign at last year’s Cyclocross National Championships and further engaging with World Bicycle Relief through the KBS – OptumHealth team, Jesse decided to dedicate the final cyclocross race weekend of his career to raise funds and awareness for World Bicycle Relief near his hometown of Beverly, MA at the Gloucester Grand Prix. As most professional athletes are inclined to do, Jesse set his fundraising bar high, and was able to raise $6,700 from loyal fans, supporters, and sponsor contributions. Best of all, Champion Systems created a special World Bicycle Relief skin suit for Jesse to wear during the Gloucester Grand Prix! Thank you Jesse for all of your hard work and we wish you the best in 2012 and beyond!

Furnace Creek 508: Scott Brown and David O’Brien | October 8 – 10, 2011 | Southern California

A couple weekends ago, two cyclists competed in “the toughest 48 hours of sport,” the Furnace Creek 508, to promote World Bicycle Relief. This epic 508 mile bike ride that boasts 35,000 feet of elevation gain through the Mojave Desert, Death Valley, and into Joshua Tree National Park is acknowledged as one of the nation’s most prestigious ultra distance cycling events. Unknowingly, two completely unrelated gentlemen both decided to accept the challenge of the Furnace Creek 508, setting up personal fundraising pages via the World Bicycle Relief “Get Involved” section to encourage donations. Tucson Velo’s Rider of the Week, David O’Brien completed the brutal course in an impressive 41 hours and raised $2,000 for World Bicycle Relief as he went. Carefully documenting his preparation for the Furnace Creek via his blog, David engaged his friends and family by showing how much training and preparation was involved to achieve his goals. His About Me section states, “Most people probably hear about this ride and think ‘who the heck is crazy enough to attempt something like that?’ Well apparently I am!” Thanks for the “crazy” attempt David! The second Furnace Creek 508 finisher, Scott Brown of Elk Grove, CA, is one of the many riders to attest that the heat and distance in this race is not something to take lightly. Fighting through chills and stomach problems to successfully complete the race, Scott’s advice for the ride is “to keep an open mind as your original plans take on a completely new direction.” We are proud of Scott for his fantastic work in completing the Furnace Creek despite these setbacks and thank him for raising over $3,300 for World Bicycle Relief along the way.  

October Events On-deck: SpinDoc Ride-a-thon | October 22, 2011 | 9 AM – 1 PM | SpinDoc, Santa Fe, NM Stop by SpinDoc in Santa Fe between 9 AM – 1 PM to spin for World Bicycle Relief. A $10/hr donation to World Bicycle Relief for the Ride-a-thon will be collected at the door. Come join the fun and bring your cowbell!

With My Own Two Wheels in NYC | October 23, 2011 | 2 PM | Walter Reed Theater, Lincoln Center, New York, NY Join World Bicycle Relief President F. K. Day for a screening of the award-winning film With My Own Two Wheels at Mountain Film in the Big Apple!

Give a Bike hits State #48 in Washington October 24, 2011 | 6 – 8 PM | Eleven Winery, Poulsbo, WA October 25, 2011 | 6 - 7:30 PM | Gregg’s Cyclery, NE Seattle, WA The incredible newlywed Give-a-Bike duo, Adam and Christy Coppola, are on a mission to tour all 50 states via bicycle to benefit World Bicycle Relief and Achilles International. As the couple hit Washington, stop by for their final presentations in the lower 48 before they head to Alaska and Hawaii to complete their tour.

The Grand Slam for Zambia championed by Johan Bruyneel and The Fat Cyclist will provide over 1,125 bicycles to African students.

In December 2009, World Bicycle Relief board member, Johan Bruyneel challenged “Fatty,” owner and author of the popular cycling blog, FATCYCLIST.com, to raise $100,000 for World Bicycle Relief and LIVESTRONG. A full VIP treatment at Team RadioShack team training was the reward if Fatty met his goal. Fatty exceeded the $100,000 mark with flying colors and, as promised, he enjoyed a day at team training camp in late 2009. In July of this year, we were very excited to learn about a new challenge issued to Fatty by Johan. The Grand Slam for Zambia invited Fatty to raise $134,000 for World Bicycle Relief or exactly 1,000 bikes (WBR bikes are $134 a piece). In return, Fatty, his wife, and one winning fundraiser would all be treated to a World Bicycle Relief program visit in Zambia.

Participants were offered incentives throughout the challenge based on the number of bikes donated. Trek, Trek Travel, Lance Armstrong, RadioShack, Gary Fisher, SRAM, Chris Horner, Ben King, and other incredible partners provided an unparalleled list of prizes, and on August 28, 2011, the challenge concluded live in Golden, Colorado, at the final US Pro Cycling Challenge stage where World Bicycle Relief, Johan Bruyneel, Fatty and fans celebrated the amazing fundraising total: $153,936 - enough for over 1,125 bikes to students in Zambia.

Since the challenge has concluded, we've enjoyed learning the stories of some of the prizewinners and thought we would share: Paul Balfour, the Grand Prize winner actually lived in Zambia for the first few years of his life when his father was transferred there for work. Paul hasn't returned to Africa as an adult, but is looking forward to his 2012 trip when he'll travel to see World Bicycle Relief’s programs in person alongside Fatty and Johan. Participant Tay Abhyankar sustained a major head injury while racing an Ironman Triathlon a few years ago. Tay is the winner of a signed Chris Horner jersey. Horner has been an inspiration to Tay particularly since the professional cyclist’s comeback after his head injury this past summer.

Finally, Tim O'Doherty, winner of a signed Lance Armstrong yellow tunic told us that when his son came home after spending a year in Tanzania, he shared stories about how determined the children were to receive an education and how far some of them would walk in order to reach that goal. The students’ stories inspired Tim to participate in the challenge and purchase a bike with his entry. These are just a few of the inspiring stories that came from the epic Grand Slam for Zambia Challenge. A huge congratulations to everyone who championed this feat; Johan, Team Fatty, all of the amazing prize contributors, the professional athletes who supported the cause and the thousands of participants.

Together you are sending 1,125 bicycles to students in Zambia and empowering generations to come!

Professional triathletes Jordan Rapp and Michellie Jones celebrate 89,707 bicycles in the field.

On October 8th, World Bicycle Relief joined thousands of triathletes in Kona for The 2011 Ironman World Championship, one of the world's most prestigious sporting events. Professional triathletes Jordan Rapp and Michellie Jones joined World Bicycle Relief at the event to celebrate 89,707 bicycles in the field. The event provided the opportunity to invite participants from around the world to be a part of the growing movement of athletes raising awareness and funds for WBR.

For just $134.00, a fraction of the cost of most bikes at Ironman, a culturally-appropriate, locally assembled bicycle can be delivered to a student fighting for her education or a business owner attempting to get goods to a market in rural Africa. "There are numerous facts and figures about how much more a farmer can carry, how much farther an aid worker can travel, or how much faster a student can get to school. But ultimately, all that data shows the same thing - $134 can change someone's world forever." - Jordan Rapp

Throughout the week World Bicycle Relief staff passed out t-shirts and tattoos with the number 89,707 to emphasize the celebration, while accepting entries in a Cervelo P3 drawing (winner announced soon!) and invited expo attendees to participate in a bicycle treasure hunt through the support of Cervelo, Newton Running, Zipp, SRAM, Quarq, Nuun, Road ID and FuelBet. A supporter prepares to take the World Bicycle Relief bike on a treasure hunt.

The event culminated with a World Bicycle Relief Q&A and signing with Michellie Jones and Jordan Rapp on the expo center stage. The professional athletes answered questions including, "What drew you to WBR?" and "Why would you recommend the cause to other athletes?" Rapp also announced his upcoming 3rd Annual Rappstar Charity Challenge for WBR (details soon) at the event.

Kona participants proudly showcase their 89,707 tees and tattoos.

For World Bicycle Relief, the highlight of Ironman 2011 came on race day as world-class athletes pushed themselves to the limits sporting WBR wristbands and tattoo's - sharing the power of bicycles. As WBR Grassroots Development Director Katie Bolling notes, "These athletes not only finished the day with an outstanding performance but they are a part of something so much bigger. They use their sport and their passion to bring life-changing transportation to a girl student fighting for education, or an entrepreneur building his business in rural Africa. It just doesn't get much better than that." For more information on how to turn your Ironman into a fundraiser for World Bicycle Relief, please contact Katie Bolling at kbolling@worldbicyclerelief.org

Corey Collier and Lara Kroepsch both fell in love with cycling while students at the University of Colorado. After successful careers as professional cyclists, they were struck by the power of the bicycle; its ability to open doors, create community, and empower individuals. While brainstorming ways in which to give back by connecting to a sport that had deepened their lives greatly, a unique opportunity emerged.

Passionate about a hometown not for profit, Light Gives Heat (LGH), Corey and Lara saw the chance to contribute by providing World Bicycle Relief bicycles to aid the organization’s efforts. LGH was founded in 2007 by Dave and Morgan Hansow after a lengthy adoption process to bring home their child from Uganda was delayed. Taking a leap of faith, Dave and Morgan left everything behind in Colorado, moving to Uganda to complete the adoption of their second child as well as create a non-profit to meet the real needs of the Ugandan people. They began the SUBBI (hope) project offering displaced women from war-torn Northern Uganda the opportunity to earn a consistent income through the sale of colorful handmade paper jewelry, clothing, and bags.

Light Gives Heat empowers Africans through the encouragement of economic sustainability and creative endeavors, now employing over 115 women in Uganda.

World Bicycle Relief (WBR), founded by SRAM Corporation in 2005 and supported by leaders in the bicycle industry, provides specifically designed and culturally appropriate bicycles into rural Africa. Managing the supply chain of their robust bicycles from start to finish, WBR provides access to independence and livelihood through the power of bicycles and has distributed over 90,000 bicycles to date. Currently funding the Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP), a 50,000 bicycle distribution to students (70% girl students) in rural Zambia, WBR supplies their bicycle to other NGO organizations looking to break transportation barriers within their own development projects.

Organizations such as the UN World Food Programme, CARE, Wellshare International, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Qhubeka have purchased bicycles through social enterprise sales, expanding the reach of WBR into sub-Saharan African countries of Tanzania, Uganda, Southern Sudan, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Malawi. A natural fit with a common cause, Corey and Lara brought these two outstanding groups together with the goal of providing WBR bikes to the women of LGH.

Through a combination of micro financing, product sales, and generous donations, Corey and Lara hope to raise money to provide women at LGH with WBR bikes. Lara, now a student at Yale University, spent the last month working at Uganda’s largest hospital and on October 1^st, visited the LGH headquarters in Jinja, Uganda to participate in a bicycle demo day lead by a WBR mechanic.

Over 60 LGH women attended the demo day to ride the program’s first 3 bikes. The day resulted in over 90 women signing up to receive bicycles via a micro-finance model where Corey and Lara will fundraise half of the cost, and the women themselves pay for the second half with monthly pay check deductions coming from their LGH salaries. The women plan to use their bicycles to commute to work, help their children get to school, as well as use the bicycle as a business tool to generate more income for their families. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bicycle Relief, a nonprofit providing access to independence and livelihood through the power of bicycles, has partnered with a majority of the nation’s top Cyclo-cross racers and Visit Bend to organize activities in the name of philanthropy alongside the Cyclo-cross National Championships in Bend, Oregon December 10-12, 2010. The weekend will incorporate a cycling specific initiative to raise awareness for the organization’s work in Zambia, “Racing Cross for a Cause”, as well as involvement with two key events in the Bend community: the Cross Culture Art Walk and WebCyclery Movie Night. Racing Cross for a Cause is led by successful professional road cyclist, Alex Candelario, who has dedicated his Cyclo-cross season to World Bicycle Relief, racing under the non-profit’s banner. The impressive list of riders Racing Cross for a Cause, along with Candelario, includes current US National Cyclo-cross Champion Tim Johnson as well as Jeremy Powers, Georgia Gould, Todd Wells, Jamey Driscoll, Kaitlin Antonneau, Ryan Trebon, Amy Dombroski, and Chris Horner, among others (see the full roster here).

Each of the riders will sport a red World Bicycle Relief wristband in the spirit of Racing Cross for a Cause as they enter the most important race of the Cyclo-cross season. The red World Bicycle Relief wristbands will be available to the public at the Cyclo-cross National Championship race venue in exchange for a $5 minimum donation to World Bicycle Relief. Each Pro level athlete Racing Cross for a Cause has an individual fundraising page where fans and supporters can designate their wristband donations in support of their favorite rider as they compete to see who can raise the most funds for World Bicycle Relief. 

Racing Cross for a Cause is open to riders who want to join the team and host their own fundraising page. Dave Towle, cycling’s premier announcer, will lend additional support to World Bicycle Relief throughout the Cyclo-cross National Championships by spreading the word about Racing Cross for a Cause during the lulls in racing action. Outside of the National Cyclo-Cross Championships, World Bicycle Relief will participate in the Cross Culture Art Walk on Friday, December 10^th. The FootZone in downtown Bend will display three of co-founder Leah Missbach Day’s photographs of Noreen, a World Bicycle Relief student recipient. The display also features a “53lbs of love” genuine World Bicycle Relief bike, to demonstrate the unique design, tailored for African terrain. The Cross Culture Art Walk will run from 5-9pm with displays in local businesses along main streets of Downtown Bend and the Old Mill District.

Finally, Saturday, Dec 11^th, World Bicycle Relief will be in attendance for WebCyclery’s Movie Night at the Tower Theater. The feature film, Where Are You Go, follows the travels of three men as they embark on a race across Africa from Cairo to Capetown. The movie will be followed by a panel discussion led by Dave Towle with Where Are You Go’s filmmakers Brian Vernor and Benny Zenga along with special guests of World Bicycle Relief. Advance tickets for the film can be purchased at WebCyclery.com. This promises to be an exciting weekend in Bend, Oregon for World Bicycle Relief and Racing Cross for a Cause! Come enjoy the festivities and help support the power of bicycles! If you have any questions, please contact: Rebecca Much | rmuch@worldbicyclerelief.org | 312.502.8468