April 23, 2010 (North Vancouver, BC) – Bicycles for Humanity will partner with Ridgeview Elementary School in West Vancouver, Canyon Heights Elementary in North Vancouver, Cheam Elementary in Chilliwack, and McMath Secondary in Richmond and will be supported by the North Shore Cyclebetes to collect and ship 400 bicycles to the people of Namibia.

Once the bikes arrive in Namibia, they will be distributed by the charitable organization Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN) Namibia according to need. The shipping container, in part funded by Cratex Container Sales, will be turned into a bike shop and staffed by mechanics. The bicycles that otherwise would have ended up in Vancouver landfills positively impact everyday life in Namibia in several ways: make food and water sources more accessible to families; break down distance barriers between children and education; and improve distribution of information and medication to inhibit the spread of HIV/AIDS. Approximately 15% of adult Namibians are infected with HIV/AIDS and many of the bikes will go to Catholic Aids Action, an organization created to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and care for those who are afflicted by it.

This is the fourth year in a row schools have supported Bicycles For Humanity. In doing so, students learn about HIV/AIDS, global inequality, and global citizenship through assisting with the collection of the bikes while taking their first step to becoming a global citizen.

North Shore Cyclebetes for Juvenile Diabetes Research – blog – is supporting the collection by accepting donated bikes at their exciting Cyclebetes North Shore Spinathon at Collingwood School (Morven Campus, 70 Morven Drive, West Vancouver) from Friday April 23rd 4:00PM-Saturday April 24th 4:00PM.

You may also donate your bike at any of the following collections:

– Canyon Heights Elementary School (4501 Highland Boulevard, North Vancouver) Monday April 26th-Friday April 30th 7:30AM-4PM

– Cheam Elementary School (9895 Banford Road, Chiliwack BC) April 29th, April 30th until 9:00AM

– McMath Secondary School (4251 Garry Street, Richmond, BC )Friday, April 30th, 2:45PM-5:00PM

– Ridgeview Elementary School (1250 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver) Saturday May 1st, 9AM-4PM.

We are accepting adult-sized Mountain or Touring bikes that are in workable condition (no missing or rusty parts). For more information on the collection please contact Scott Slater at sslater@sd45.bc.ca.

This collection is enabled by generous support from the following organizations: Cratex Container sales & Rentals and American Cartage.