Tag: World Bicycle Relief

Now We Ride: UK Cyclists take on epic 23 Million Miles charity challenge

Love To Ride, the online community cycling platform, and partner charities of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, World Bicycle Relief and Maggie’s, have announced a partnership to change lives while encouraging Brits to get on their bikes.

The 23 Million Miles Challenge will see cyclists around the country contribute their rides – whether one or one hundred miles – to an epic 23 million mile goal ahead of the biggest cycling event in the world, the UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland, 3-13 August 2023. Cyclists can now fundraise for the life-changing partner charities whilst adding their mileage to the total.

World Bicycle Relief, the Championships’ global charity partner, provides purpose-designed, hard-wearing ‘Buffalo Bicycles’ to people in need in rural areas around the world where access to basic goods and services is affected by long distances and harsh terrain.

These bicycles help children, adults, families and communities reach life-changing education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Fundraising through the 23 Million Miles Challenge will help World Bicycle Relief to meet its target of providing 1 million bicycles by 2025.

After setting up a fundraising page for World Bicycle Relief, cyclists can register with Love to Ride, set a mileage goal, begin fundraising with family, friends or colleagues, then hit the saddle and start logging their miles.

Maggie’s, the Championships’ national charity partner, provides free, practical and psychological support to anyone living with cancer, their families and friends. Maggie’s centres offer a warm and welcoming place to go for people at every stage of cancer. Visitors can speak to professional staff including cancer support specialists, clinical psychologists, benefits advisors and relaxation therapists, who offer individual and group support to help live well with cancer.

By taking part in the 23 Million Miles Challenge and choosing to fundraise for Maggie’s, cyclists can directly contribute to the charity’s vital services and programs and support anyone living with cancer.

Maggie’s are calling on cycling fans to take part in their virtual Gran Fondo, challenging them to take on 250km or 500km by 13 August and raise funds to help support everyone living with cancer. Riders can sign up to receive a free cycling jersey, join Maggie’s Strava club, and start logging their miles with Love to Ride.

Claire Geiger, Director of Partnerships, World Bicycle Relief, said: “The UCI Cycling World Championships is bringing cycling to Scotland and the world on a scale we’ve never experienced before, but there’s more to the Championships than competition.

“These next few months are all about showcasing the power of the bike as not only a tool for sport, commuting, and recreation, but also for transportation in remote parts of the world. By logging miles and raising money, cyclists around the United Kingdom can help in the mission to get more people riding bikes.”

Adam Feder, Head of Partnerships, Maggie’s, said: “At Maggie’s we know how cycling – and movement in general – can play a huge part in emotional and physical recovery after cancer.

“That’s we’re delighted to be working with Love to Ride and the 2023 Cycling World Championships to showcase the #powerofthebike and encourage more people to get cycling to support their mental and physical health.”

Angus Rodney, Partnerships Manager for Scotland, Love To Ride, said: “Love to Ride are delighted to work in partnership with Maggies, World Bicycle Relief, and the 2023 Cycling World Championships team.

“Ultimately we want to inspire people to jump on their bikes, build some excitement around this amazing event which showcases the power of the bike. And motivate people to do their bit to contribute towards net zero.

“The goal is big, but by working together we can achieve big things!”

Find out more about the 23 Million Miles Challenge here.

Cycling World Champs: Charity partner calls for volunteers 

  • Volunteers and fundraisers across Scotland prepare to help World Bicycle Relief deliver 1 million bikes to communities in need around the world 
  • More cycling-loving volunteers needed to bring World Bicycle Relief events to life in key Championship venues including Glasgow, Glentress, and Fort William 

Ahead of the first-ever UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland in August, World Bicycle Relief, the official Global Charity Partner of the 2023 event, is preparing to announce an ambitious programme of events and activities created to unite communities across Scotland to celebrate the power of the bike. 

But first, World Bicycle Relief is calling on audacious Scots to donate their time at the Cycling World Championships. 

Cycling fans who sign up as volunteers will join World Bicycle Relief’s passionate team to celebrate the sport’s greatest athletes at this world-first event – all while fundraising to help to provide 1 million bicycles to transform the lives of thousands of families and communities around the world. 

World Bicycle Relief’s volunteers will get involved in exciting activations alongside iconic World Bicycle Relief partners; lead community bike rides; support school and club activities; and help deliver inspiring fundraising activities. All with the goal of raising money to provide bikes and train mechanics. 

In Glasgow, the Glasgow Green BMX hub will be home to a VR experience where volunteers will help the public can ride a Buffalo Bike and see exactly what the bike’s recipient would.

In George Square, volunteers will support a milk churn challenge, where participants will try and shift full milk churns with and without the help of a Buffalo Bike – a great way of demonstrating how a bike can boost physical capabilities and help people transport goods.

In event villages around Scotland volunteers will also help sell merchandise and man donation points, as well as host competitions and challenges for the public.  

World Bicycle Relief works with communities to provide Buffalo Bicycles –  sturdy bikes specially designed to carry heavy loads and handle rugged terrain –  to people in need who live in rural, unpaved areas. These bikes can transform lives by helping schoolchildren and adults access education, employment, and healthcare.   

Mark Kiehlmann, an Agile Project Manager based in Glasgow, has volunteered for World Bicycle Relief since 2020 and is looking forward to leading the charity’s Cycling World Championships mountain biking volunteer team alongside his wife and three children: 

“I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformation that bicycles can bring to children, women and men in countries like Kenya where I once worked. Children could shorten the time taken to get to school by cycling, allowing them to travel more safely and quickly while providing more time for essential chores like collecting firewood or water. While women I met, like Irene, could transport more of the food she grew easily, sell it fresh and get home safely by bicycle.

“The Cycling World Championships is going to be an incredible opportunity to share World Bicycle Relief’s life-changing message that anyone, anywhere in the world should have the opportunity to pursue their goals without feeling stuck or unsafe due to distance or lack of transportation.

“I can’t wait to get involved in the biggest cycling event ever where the world’s greatest riders will make history in Scotland and show the world the power of the bike – all while making a difference to communities around the world!”