Community digs deep for bike charity

Almost 50 bicycles will be making a difference to the lives of people in WA’s remote communities and Africa, thanks to a successful collection day delivered by the City of Gosnells.

The City recently partnered with the Bicycles for Humanity charity group to encourage people to donate their unwanted bikes.

The charity group repairs the donated bikes, and sends the bikes to its partner organisations around Western Australia and in Africa, for distribution.

Where a bike cannot be repaired, it is disassembled and the parts are donated and used for upcycling or repurposing projects.     

Forty-eight bikes and two scooters were donated as part of the collection day, including four new bikes donated by the Cannington Rebel Sport retail outlet.

Mayor David Goode praised the community for their show of generosity during challenging times.

“In the difficult and unprecedented times we are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, it was heartening to see so many people give back to the community in this way,” he said.   

“The bikes that were donated at the collection day will be sent to the WA Rural Community Program and a new women’s school in Namibia, where they will make a huge difference to the lives of community members.

“A bike allows access to health care, education and economic opportunity and is a big lever in breaking the poverty cycle.”     

If you missed the collection day but would still like to donate a bike, a list of drop-off locations can be found on the Bicycles for Humanity website.

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