A work colleague of our club president (’08-’09) is the secretary of Phoenix Cycling Club. Through this link the Club has become involved in supporting Bike Aid for Africa,
Phoenix Cycling Club has set up a project to restore old bikes and send them out to Africa through existing charities. They are taking old bikes, parts of bikes, wheels etc from volunteers and/or council dumps. Members of the club help to service and repair the donated bikes before packing into containers for dispatch to Africa. The bikes will go to schools, orphanages, aid workers and aid projects via existing registered charities.
The first batch is going in a few weeks through a consignment from a church charity in Newtownards. A number of other charities will be involved in the future.
The first 19 ‘Ballymony’ bikes went at the end of June 2008.