David Cann Escapes From Alcatraz

David Cann recently completed the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Fancisco and raised hundreds of dollars for Bicycles For Humanity in the process. Braving freezing and shark infested waters he swam 1.5 miles from Alcatraz to the main land, biked 18 miles and finished with a 8 mile run.

He let us know how it all went -

‘I successfully ESCAPED from Alcatraz on Sunday, conditions were great, the swim went exactly to plan and i didn’t meet any friendly Sea Lions during the swim. It was the most fun, half way accross I took a breather and looked over to the Golden Gate Bridge to my right and Bay Bridge to my left with the city straight ahead, if only i had my camera at that point.’

David Cann

We’re forever blown away by people like David coming on board and doign incredible events like this to support us.

If you have a challenge you’ like to take on you can join the legions of B4H heroes through everydayhero.com.

Paul Kviecinskas Rides Perth to Melbourne!

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/paulius_kviecinskas

Our latest supporter and winner of the ‘Hero of  The Year’ award is Paul Kviecinskas. He’ll be riding from Perth to Melbourne later this year and helping us raise funds for the next container of bikes. ‘Perth to Melbourne’ I hear you say… no, it’s not an extended typo or geographical ignorance - it is around 4,500 km from Indian Ocean to Port Phillip Bay covering the legendary Nullaboor on the way.

But wait there’s more. As 4,500 km is such a small effort Paul will be doing it hard core on a single speed. Yes, really. Here’s a bit more about the amazing Paul in his own words.

Paulius Kviecinskas, 30 years old, living in Spotswood Melbourne.  Ecologist, currently working for Melbourne Water.  Have worked in many bike shops in the past as sales and as head mechanic.  Became aware of B4H whilst working in a bike shop and having customers ask me about any charities that will take their old bikes.  I have always been into the outdoors, cycling, mountainbiking, rockclimbing, mountaineering, hiking, adventure races etc.  Have done several long distance bike rides but never this long plus a single speed.  Chose to do the single speed due to reliability and ease of maintenance and for the extra challenge.  I thought doing something on a bike would be fitting to raise funds for B4H.

From its beginnings BicyclesFor Humanity, Melbourne has been supported by wonderful and passionate people like Paul who get what we’re doing and do astounding things because of it.  He deserves all our support - you can get behind him and his amazing effort at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/paulius_kviecinskas

Ride Through Italy and Help Us Out

Austin-Lehman Adventures is pleased to partner with Bicycles-for-Humanity and all its chapters in sponsoring a unique way to pay-it-forward this fall.

Cyclists from around the world can sign up for a seven day pedal tour of the Tuscany region of Italy. Proceeds from this trip will help fund the establishment of a bike shop and cycling center in a remote African village in the far eastern corner of Namibia. Austin-Lehman has earmarked $1,000 per booking for this trip to go directly to the new bike shop and cycling center in Namibia. To read more about the partnership between ALA and B4H and to view more about the sustainability of this project, please read our news release.

Kaoko Bike Work Shop - Opowu, Namibia

Our first container of bikes left for Namibia in June 2009. It is now an  extremely successful bike work shop in the town of Opowu in northern Namibia. Implemented by BEN Nambia as a Bicycle Empowerement Centre the workshop has provided much of the local community with bikes which have changed their day to day lives.  The income from the workshop is supporting the orphan program run by Red Cross.

The container has now been modified - given an extra roof, doors and a concrete pad outside. Local particpants are trained as bike mechanics and also educated in business and entrepeneurial skills. The BEC is established as a self sustaining business that can contuinue to benefit the community well into the future. The Kaoko BEC has been a successful venture from its launch. It provides vital services and bikes to the local community and employs 4 mechanics who’s lives have been completely changed by their involvement in the project. Meet The Team below.

Rauna 38 y.o., 1 year old child. Her allowance as a Red Cross volunteer was N$200 per month, she now earns N$700 per month. Rauna has already bought a bicycle for her child, and the main difference the extra income makes for her is being able to buy more food each month.

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Michael 26 y.o., main guardian for his niece, was working as a pastor before the BEC and earning a variable amount, averaging around what he earns through the BEC, but was travelling 2-3 weeks per month, and as guardian of his niece was not able to provide her enough attention. Now earns N$700 per month. Michael having a more structured work and family life

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Johannes 22 y.o., no kids, was working as a casual shelf stacker at a local supermarket, earning N$90 per shift, sometimes only getting 3 or 4 shifts per month. Now earns N$700. Johannes describes his life before the project as an endless struggle, in which he frequently had to borrow money to pay his rent and buy food, and is glad he no longer has to do this.

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Simpson 20 y.o., no kids. Was not working previously, now earns N$400 per month as the apprentice mechanic (Simpson did not participate in BEN Namibia’s training). Simpson has only completed grade 8, and as such his employment prospects were bleak, but his passion for bicycle repair won him a place on the team.

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And some of their customers..
Ricardo Rodriques: Says his very good quality. Ricardo lives on his family’s farm outside Opuwo, and uses the bike for shopping trips and to visit friends and family, for which he used to walk long distances. He thinks the BEC is a good project because it is providing transport in Opuwo. His younger brother and sister also use his bike.

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Samuel Shiwetha: This is the first he has ever owned(an ex-Great Victorian Bike Ride bike). He uses it to ride to his job as a car mechanic at Namwater, to which he used to walk an hour each day. He also visits friends and family in surrounding villages.

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Knog Bags-a-rama

Along with the 410 bikes and 3 computers Knog ( our brilliant sponsor) provided hundreds of bike bags and panniers.  Many of these were given to the kids at the orpanage and others were sold with the proceeds going to the same orpanage.

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