Hello family, friends, colleagues and all of you fantastic strangers,

A bike was always about fun and challenge for me, but never a necessity…that is not the case for many. It was not until someone in Malawi told me that she could not take a work opportunity because her bicycle was broken that I started to look at bikes as tools for independence, opportunity, livelihood and community and social justice!

I got to know about Bikes Not Bombs through my fantastic flat-mate, Heather Gain, with whom I will be doing this ride? yaaay!

Bikes Not Bombs uses the bicycle as a vehicle for social change and create local and global programs that provide skill development, jobs, and sustainable transportation. Each year they collect roughly 6,000 used bicycles and tons of used parts and then ship them overseas to economic development projects in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Bikes that don't get shipped often land in their Youth Programs where teens learn bicycle safety and mechanics skills in the process of earning bikes to keep for themselves.

So here is what I will try to do:

• First: raise money with your generous support (yep…it does come with that, but for a really really really REALLY good cause – see above?)
• Second: dedicate this ride to all the fantastic people in Malawi and try to get Bikes Not Bombs to establish projects in that beautiful country as well (just saying, Malawi is called the warm heart of Africa…it really is, in spite of being one of the poorest countries in the World)
• Finally: do the 50 miles (80km) ride with a SMILE on my face (given all this takes place in New England the weather will either be super-hot or extremely windy or it might snow…so either way, that smile all the way through is a huuuuge commitment)

And here is what I am asking from you (sorry): please help me to raise as much money as possible either by donating any amount you want/feel right/can (I take anything, really and there is a huge DONATE button on the right side of this page) or through spreading the word about Bikes Not Bombs and the event (or both?).

Thank you for reading through my slightly longer than planned message and also for all your support!

Dora

PS: the photo was taken in Lilongwe, Malawi.