10 Cycling Charities You Should Consider
Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to dust off your bike and hit the open road! And what better way to celebrate the beginning of the cycling season than by supporting one of these amazing cycling charities?
From supporting veterans to getting kids active, there’s a charity for everyone. So get out there and start pedaling for a good cause!
1. Wheel2Wheel Holidays
This charity provides free cycling holidays for injured veterans. They believe that getting out on two wheels can help veterans with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
2. The Bike Project
This charity helps refugees and asylum seekers in London get access to bikes and cycle training. They believe that biking can help people integrate into their new communities and lead active, healthy lives.
3. BikeWorks
Based in Hackney, this charity uses bikes to transform the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. They provide training and work experience in all aspects of cycle maintenance, helping young people develop skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
4. Re-Cycle
This charity collects unwanted bikes in the UK and ships them to Africa, where they are refurbished and given to local people who need them for transport. They have distributed over 25,000 bikes in six countries so far!
5. British Heart Foundation
This well-known charity has a special fund for cycling initiatives aimed at getting more people active and reducing heart disease. One of their current projects is providing free bikes and cycle training to heart patients in Manchester.
6. Cycling Without Age
This international charity provides trishaws (a three-wheeled bike) so that elderly or mobility-impaired people can enjoy the wind in their hair and the feeling of freedom that comes with being out on two wheels again.
7. Pedal Against Poverty
This UK-based charity uses cycling as a way to tackle poverty and social exclusion by working with disadvantaged young people in East London. They run several different programs, from group rides to mountain biking expeditions.
8. LifeCycle UK
This charity takes groups of disabled children and adults on all-expenses-paid cycling trips around the country. They believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the joys of cycling, regardless of ability!
9. Bike Aid
This German-based charity works specifically in Africa, using bicycles as a tool for development. They provide bikes to health workers so they can reach more patients, as well as support local bike shops and mechanics so that people can maintain their bikes long-term.
10. Kids on Bikes
As the name suggests, this US-based charity gets kids active by providing them with bikes and helmets, as well as teaching them about bike safety and maintenance. They operate programs in several different states across America.
Conclusion
There are so many great reasons to get out on your bike this spring! Not only is it great exercise, but it’s also a great way to support some amazing causes.
Whether you’re looking to help veterans or get kids active, there’s a charity for everyone. So find one that speaks to you and get out there pedaling for a good cause!
