Where do I begin

Normally I would write about the need for bikes in Africa and how to get more bike there. maybe it's a few glass's of wine, maybe it's relaxing at the end of a hard week, but wow, wow. Grassroots initiatives are hard, but also very rewarding, the buauty of this is, never known, never knowing what is going to happen, what surprises and what people will do.

Well, people are simply amazing and there is no end to the good one individual can do. I am in awe of what Steve and the terrific group of people in Thunder Bay have done in such a short time and the fun they are having. Seb and Sandra in Ottawa are exploring many paths and like Steve, i and many others will find their path and start thier own journey. In Namibia, Michael and Clarisse are starting on a journey together into marriage.

The wow comes from how rich my life has become as a result of meeting all of these terrific people and sharing their journey. Living in Kelowna or Whistler tends to make out lives smaller, but with a global community fo friends that together we share a common interest in humanity and taking small steps to help, well, wow is the only word I can think of.

Humanity does Rock

Pat

We need Help

The need for bicycles to assist caregivers who are working and supporting those with Aids in Africa is huge. We are trying to send 4 containers to Namibia this year and hopefully develop a template that will scale to other countries and communities globally. We like all small grassroots groups need your help in telling others about what we do. If you believe that a bicycle makes a difference and mobility is important, please add the www.bicycles-for-humanity.org domain under the signature on all of your emails. Thanks, Pat

Spring and time to ride across the country

Well, the snow is almost gone and it's time to go for a bike ride, a long ride. Whistler, British Columbia to Bar Harbour, Maine. The purpose of this ride is 3 fold, to bring attention ot the need for bicycles in Africa, to visit Rotary clubs and encourage them to get invovled and lastly, to hopefully help raise some funds to help cover the cost of shipping containers to Africa.

Details of the ride can be found at www.bicycles-for-humanity.org behind the like, Whistler Rotary, Humanity Rocks Ride.

Pat

Where do we bring our bikes?

Rode by bike today form Whistler to Pemberton and back. it was a beautiful day, warm weather, the white capped peaks all around and a real joy to be on a bike. When I got home, there were 4 messages from people asking where they can drop their bikes off. The calls came form every corner of Canada and the states. This year many groups are organizing bike collections in their own communities and as yet, we still do not know all the dates.

we do know that Vernon, B.C and Brampton , Ontario are scheduled for May, as are collections in Manchester, UK. ThunderBay , Ontario is June and Kelowna B.C. is planning on a fall collection. Vancouver Island, Ottawa and San Antonio Texas are just beginning ot think about collections and no dates are set as of yet.

What is interesting and exciting are the number of people coming forward and wanting to organize and send containers of bikes to Africa. If you are interested in organizing a conrtainer, help out or join our team, please email, pat@bicycles-for-humanity.org

Thanks


pat

Spring is just around the corner

For those of us living in the north, the snow is beginning to melt and many of us are pulling the old bikes out and getting ready to ride again. This year we are hoping to send 5 containers of bikes or BEC's to Namibia and one to Uganda this summer. Many communities are organizing bike collections and we at Bicycles for Humanity are doing all we can do support these groups. Organizing a BEC is fun for those involved here and very rewarding, knowing that each and every old bike will help greatly in Africa. We are encouraging groups, clubs, schools and individuals to get invovled, organize and send bikes ot Africa.

This year, B4H will provide every group interested on organizing a BEC, with all the posters, cards and limited edition prints they will need for ther fundraisinfg efforts, more at www.bicycles-for-humanity.org.

In addition, for those containers of bikes destined to support Aids workers and empowering women, B4H will donate $1000 towards your efforts. If you are interested in learning more, please contact me at, pat@bicycles-for-humanity.org


Thanks


Pat

Where do we go from here

For the past week, I've been pedaling a bicycle from San Antonio, Texas to Florida. I'm writing this from St. Francisville, Louisiana. Pedaling a bike every day for 10 hours allows a person a lot of itme to think and ponder life. Last year was busy, this year it's shaping up to be busier for B4H. The model of a community here organizing a BEC and adapting a community in Africa is taking hold and there are so many incridible things happenning. thunderbay just sent a large number of bikes to Rownda with medical suppliers and is planning a container to Zambia. A group in Brampton is doing the ground work in preperation for sending a BEC. We're busy planning a BEC to be sent form the kelowna/Vernon area and another one form Vancouver.

thunderbay has adapted the B4H model and established thier own B4H group. We're delighted that they have done this and we encourage other communities, civic clubs, schools and church's to do the same. Once the idea takes route in a community it's amazing to see how it unfolds and what a community is capable of. I'm biking along , answering email at night in total amazement and awe at what is taing place. In 4 communities can do it, a hundred can and a hundred transportation centres in Africa will, simply change the way things are done and forever it will be different and better.

What is really exciting is to see how a community comes together, hs a focus and each in their own way acting and making the dream come true. Humanity does rock and watching all these small grassroots groups take action, well, it's simply delightful.

Wow a New Year

The past month has been very hectic, new web site, a lot of great ideas being discussed and trying to make plans for this year on where to send bikes. The model of sending a container of bikes along with tools and spare parts has turned out to be something that everyone understands and it simply just makes sense.

On the website we have identified 5 projects, 4 in Namibia and one in Uganda that are in desperate need of a BEC. In anyone would like to partner with one of these programs or participate with others, please let us know.

Secondly, the terrific people of ThunderBay, Ontario have decided to start their own Bicycles for Humanity chapter or group and in 2 short weeks will be sending bikes to Rowanda along with medicaal supplies, more on this behind the ThunderBay link.

What is really exciting is that schools, clubs and communities globally are getting invovled and sending bikes to Africa. Groups are forming with Rotary being a key partner in London, England, Sydney Australia and other communities are entertaining setting up initiatives.

This year, it is our goal to send at least 6 BEC's to Africa and we need help on all fronts, if you are interested in helping out or starting an initiative in your community, please let us know. If you know of anyone who migfht be interested in helping or in need of bikes, please forward the link to our website to them.

Thanks


Pat