Our donations............/ The Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill’s Bicycle Collection Project goes from strength to strength

Since former President, Jackie Wellman’s, initial bicycle collection staged just after total lock-down eased on 2nd June when she and Rtn. Sertac Yilmaz collected 40 bikes and 42 on the following day, the project has gone from strength to strength.

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Jackie and her fellow Rayleigh Mill Rotarian helpers have now conducted six collections and have collected 275 unwanted bicycles that have been delivered to the Colchester based charity Re~Cycle where they are re-furbished  and shipped to rural communities in Africa where they completely change the quality of life of the recipients. Prior to receipt of the bicycles the people have no form of transport and many hours are spent walking to collect water. The bicycles reduce the hours spent collecting water, mainly by young girls, and allows them to attend school when the bikes also help in reducing the time to get to school.

The bikes also enable some of the older recipients to obtain employment that may have been too far away to have been possible without the use of their bicycle.

The members of the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill are indebted to, and wish to thank, all the people in the Southend area who have donated their unwanted bicycles. The bikes will make a life-changing difference to all the people, both children and adults, in rural communities in Africa that receive them.   

There is an ongoing need for these unwanted bicycles. If the numbers justify another collection The Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill will arrange more collections although this may not take place until the New Year. If you have a bike that you want to donate, please get in touch with the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill at president@rayleighmillrotary.org.uk.

For more information on Re~Cycle, please visit www.re-cycle.org