ISLANDERS thinking of getting someone a new bike for Christmas are being asked to donate the old one to a charity helping people in Africa.
Re-Cycle Bikes to Africa on the Isle of Wight takes unwanted bikes and ships them to projects in Africa where they are used by children to travel to school and by adults so they can travel to work.
In the last two years, Re-Cycle has taken eight truckloads of bikes to Colchester from where they are finally shipped to the African continent — amounting to about 1,200 bicycles just from the Isle of Wight.
Sue Bailey, local co-ordinator, said: "We’re very grateful for the bicycles that people donate. It’s mutually beneficial, people discover space they didn’t realise they had in their sheds and gardens and we can send bicycles where they are really appreciated."
Last month, Sue and her husband Neil borrowed a Bartlett’s 7.5 tonne truck and took 130 bikes from the Isle of Wight to Colchester.
Sue added: "The warehouse in Colchester where the bikes are prepared and stored prior to being packed into shipping containers is exemplary in its organisation.
"By 9am, the 130 bikes brought from the Isle of Wight were offloaded. Many if these bikes will probably be sent to the Kaloko Trust in Zambia where they are used by adults and children to get to work or school. The Kaloko Trust is one of seven partner organisations in Africa with whom Re-Cycle works."
Anyone who has bicycles they no longer work, please take them to innerspaces, Place Road, Cowes or contact Sue on 07837 601315. Bikes can also be collected for a donation towards fuel.