This is my 5th Bike-A-Thon, a 100 mile bike ride for a great cause and I open with the same line every time.
So, with everything else going on at home and in the rest of the world, why this cause?
Bike riding and playing soccer have been 2 constants for me over the last 45 years. BNB just resonates with me, thinking and acting locally and globally, empowerment of individuals, communities and the considered reuse of resources.
Each year BNB collect roughly 5,000 used bicycles and tons of used parts from supporters around Greater Boston and New England.They ship most of these bikes overseas to economic development projects through International Partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Some of the bikes are repurposed in Youth Programs where teens learn bicycle safety and mechanics skills in the process of earning bikes to keep for themselves. A retail Bike Shop also reconditions and sells some of the donated bikes, while employing many graduates of the programs. The Shop's profit from the bicycle sales, parts sales, and repairs goes towards funding youth and international work.
So if you have a loose dollar or two and you feel this is a reasonable use for it, toss it in the bucket, match fund it if you are fortunate enough to have the option. It will be much appreciated and well used.
Cheers!
Gordon
