B4H’s 22nd Annual Mini Go Ride
By Gareth Pritchard
With the long winter finally over and spring in the air, the wheels are spinning once again for the busy volunteer crew of Bicycles for Humanity (B4H). Last year, the group sent over 900 “no longer used” bikes from Northwestern Ontario to new owners in Namibia in southwest Africa, and refurbished and recycled approximately 200 bicycles for use in our own community.
Another shipment is planned for late spring, so if you have an unused or unwanted bike in your garage or basement please consider donating it and helping to change another person’s life for the better. The potential impact of your old bike can be huge. Lavinia Friedrich, a young recipient of a bike in Oshakati, Namibia, offered these words of thanks: “We hope that good Samaritans who donated bicycles will not give up. We hope that those who have not donated before will be willing to donate. It means a lot to the Namibian people, especially to people like me. Thank you very much!”
In support of the shipment of bikes to Africa, B4H is teaming up with Shelter House Thunder Bay for the 22nd Annual Mini Go Ride on Saturday, May 31. This is a fun, non-competitive bike ride for all ages, with distances from 10 to 47 km. The ride starts at 11 am at the Neebing Roadhouse with refreshments, snacks, and support along the routes. There will be live blues music, tonnes of free attendance prizes, auctions, and raffles.
For details on the Mini Go Ride visit minigoride.com. Bike donations can be dropped off at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore located on Squire Street or call 620-4769.