November 11/06 9:24 am - Bicycles for Humanity Bike Drive a Great Success

Posted by Editoress on 11/11/06
 

Bicycles for Humanity Bike Drive West Vancouver: Great Success
Courtesy Philip Burgess

The Bicycles for Humanity Bike drive held last weekend in very rainy West Vancouver was a huge success. Students of Rockridge Secondary and Ridgeview Elementary, parents and volunteers filled a 40 foot shipping container with over 300 mountain bikes, 60 Norco frames and forks with essential parts all of which will make a huge difference to the inhabitants of the TOV orphanage in Tsumeb, Northern Namibia.

Our partners, the Bicycle Empowerment Network will accompany the container on its final leg and will assist in the conversion of the container into a permanent bike store and will train local people in bike mechanic skills and how to run a small bicycle business. Access to affordable transportation is a key development issue and we see this model as being an inexpensive and highly effective way to improve the quality of people's lives in an immediate and visible manner.

We would like to extend our thanks to all those who donated funds and bicycles on the day. The community was extremely generous, donating over $6000 which will be used to pay for the shipping and related costs. All donors were entered into a draw for a $250 gift certificate at La Bicicletta, Vancouver's premier road bike store and the lucky winner was Sara Lackance of West Vancouver.

The logistics of shipping the container would not have been possible without the generous support of Delta, BC based Terminals Systems Inc. (Canada's largest container terminal operator), American Cartage and Zim Shipping. Delta Containers generously donated a container which will start a new life in Namibia as a Bicycle Empowerment Centre and Norco Performance Bicycles generously donated bicycle frames and parts.

The container will sail out of the Port of Vancouver next week arriving in Namibia in mid January. Photos of the collection are HERE
or contact Philip Burgess, philipbee@gmail.com. In addition, Vancouver Breakfast TV will air a piece about the collection at 8:35am on November 20th.