For four years I have been participating in the Bikes-not- Bombs annual fundraiser to raise awareness and funds to support the mission of our local Jamaica Plain bike shop, Bikes Not Bombs. Bikes not Bombs mission is to use "the bicycle as a vehicle for social change to acheive economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South". As an avid recreational cyclist and someone that uses the bicycle as a mode of transportation, the committment and efforts of Bikes Not Bombs within the community and beyond resonates with me for many different reasons. In addition Bikes Not Bombs collects over 5,000 used bicycles and distributes these bikes overseas to economic development projects in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean where I have personally volunteered my time at Bikes Not Bombs to prepare these bikes to be shipped. Locally, bikes are distributed in Youth Pathways - a program where teens learn bicycle safety and mechanical skills and keep these bikes for their use.
If this cause resonates with you too please feel free to donate to my annual Bike-A-Thon Fundraiser on June 8th. I will be biking (and sightseeing) the 50-miler route to support this wonderful organization.
