The momentum is rolling along for Garden Bay couple Bill and Lyn Charlton and the Bicycles for Humanity chapter on the Sunshine Coast.
Bicycles for Humanity is a worldwide grassroots, volunteer-run organization that believes a bicycle can change the life of a person in a developing country.
Groups collect enough usable bikes to fill a shipping container and then ?fundraise to send the container full of bikes to a country in need.
The bikes are distributed free of charge and the container itself becomes a bike repair shop on the other end, complete with some basic tools and supplies to keep the gifted bikes in working order.
Started in 2005 by a couple in Whistler, Bicycles for Humanity chapters throughout B.C. have shipped thousands of bikes to Africa.
There are now more than 50 chapters in six different countries, and the Sunshine Coast is the newest chapter to join the ranks.
The Charltons decided to start a chapter late last year, after searching for a way to help those less fortunate in other countries.
This weekend the Coast chapter is holding a bicycle blitz and drop-off locations for people who want to donate their unwanted bikes for a good cause.
The event is this Saturday, April 5, at Coast Storage and Container in Pender Harbour from 10 a.m. to noon. A second event is this Sunday, April 6, at Coast Storage Container in Gibsons just past the auto wreckers on the way to the ferry terminal between 10 a.m. and noon. You can also call 604-740-6144 to arrange for pick-up.
At other times, drop-offs are also available at Rona and the PetroCan in Pender Harbour and Central Coast Concrete in Sechelt.
The Charltons thank everyone for all the donations and the support so far.
"We desperately need more drop-off locations in Sechelt and Gibsons, volunteers to collect bikes in Gibsons and Sechelt, and a long term storage facility in Sechelt," Bill said.
To volunteer, establish a drop-off location or help with storage space, call 604-740-6144 or email [email protected]. More information is available at www.bicycles-for-humanity.org, or www.b4hsunshinecoast.weebly.com.
-With files from Christine Wood
