Celebrating all the cyclists changing the world on two wheels this World Bicycle Day
World Bicycle Day is always a big deal for us at Transaid. It’s a chance to honour all those who are keeping our programmes moving forward on two wheels. From the bicycle ambulance riders serving their communities in Zambia, to our UK supporters braving our cycle challenges to raise vital funds, we’ll be celebrating you on the 3rd June!
This year we’ll also be celebrating our long-awaited return to the roads with our UK-based Way of the Roses ride. We can’t wait to get back in the saddle with our supporters in September. Will you be joining us?
Mike Wilson Mike has completed an incredible seven Transaid cycle challenges in Africa and Europe, and is set to take on Way of the Roses. “My first challenge was back in 2010, Tanzania. The experience lived with me after I returned and I vowed that I would try and make myself available for other challenges. Little did I know what was to follow!” Mike stresses that you don’t need to be a cycling fanatic to complete a ride, saying there are always those who “start off challenged by the whole event but by halfway are confident”. And the best part? “everyone being there in the evening, having a beer – great!”
Bryan Semple Bryan completed his first Transaid cycle challenge in 2018, and has been eager to get back on his bike with us since then. “The Way of the Roses challenge gives us a great opportunity to participate in a fantastic route with a great bunch of people and raise some much needed funds for Transaid’s great programmes”. His advice to anyone thinking of signing up to the challenge? “DO IT!!!… This is a great chance to make a real difference as well as have a lot of fun doing it. In addition, I made some great friends with whom we made some great memories. I hope to see you in September in Morecambe.”
Webinar: tackling severe malaria with bicycle ambulances Missed our webinar on 4th May? Watch it again to hear the latest on the MAM at Scale programme, which is using bicycle ambulances to tackle malaria and COVID-19 in rural Zambia. Watch it on Youtube.
Over 240 bicycles start a new life in MadagascarAt the beginning of the month we celebrated the news that 242 donated bicycles had been sold in the Diana e-box in Madagascar, as part of the Mahefa Miaraka programme. E-boxes are social enterprises that sell and repair bicycles, to support local health activities and improve access to services. The Diana e-box is the first to be completely independently run.
Road Safety Week: Uganda driver training project celebrates impressive results This month we also celebrated Road Safety Week by welcoming some impressive results from our driver training programme in Uganda. 100% of trainees felt they were equipped with “job-ready” skills, whilst 90% said they felt safer on the roads. Read the story.
