Hi everyone, thanks for all your emails and donated bikes.
We have been in Ballina, but have moved once again, such is life.
We have around 2000 bikes stored in Sydney, and around 200 in the Byron Bay area.
As you may know, we receive no funding to this point, so, we run on others GOODWILL.
Storage has always been a difficult issue, but somehow it happens.
We have been in Thailand trying to organise some bikes to go to needy people here, with limited results.
Our next objective is to set up a buisness in the Byron area, so some of the bikes may be sold or hired to the local pubic, in this way we can somehow fund the mission, thus, pay for shipping of bikes to developing countries.
This is the method used by larger charities like Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul and the rest.
There is little use having thousands of bikes in storage when they can be used to achieve the objective, being sent to poorer countries.
The buisness will be audited, with profits being kept in a seperate account, which is already in place.
If anyone has other ideas on a system to raise funds for transporting bikes, and running costs, we would love to speak with you.
We have contacted councils, funding agencies, corporations, with little success, so we run on faith.
There is so much room for others to become involved, yet so few make the effort.
So, if you know anyone who wishes to support a worthy cause, why not inform them of our mission.
We will update in a week, once we return to Australia, to recommence the ground work.
Anyone with a large truck is invited to contact us, as we have around 2000 bikes to relocate from Sydney.
This mission was established by Mark Pate and Jenny Clarke, who have worked together to make this mission possible.
Our goal is to collect, store, repair and distribute as many bikes as possible to those in need.
This mission collects unwanted bicycles in Australia and then distributes them to developing countries.
Our aim is to deliver as many bicycles as possible to as many people as possible in as many places as needed in Australia and overseas.
To date July 2009 we have sent around 10,000 bikes to various developing countries including Africa, East Timor, Solomon Islands and the Australian Indigenous people around Alice Springs.
LATEST UPDATES 2009 July
Our focus has always been on those who are in need the most.
Africa was always a goal we had in mind.
So, in 2008 we managed to send 400 bikes to Ghana
We also have opened a link with the Solomon Islands, and I have just returned from Honiara, after sending our first container there with around 200 bikes.
We are looking forward to the next container around late July 2009.
The Solomons bikes went in May 2009
Soon I will give some more updates and photos.
We have around 2000 bikes in storage as of July 2009.
I am always looking for more storage as this is always the hardest part.
We sell a few bikes also, to backpackers and travellers who do not want to spend a lot of money.
Plus we have a buy back system when they leave.
Villages are our main focus, so, with the Solomons so close to Australia, bikes are going to be flowing into the place quite often we can assume.
We are always looking for bikes, help in any way and funding, which to date we have not received.
This is a temporary adress until we get a permanent location.
The indigenous Australian population who live in remote areas are our main focus in Australia.
Our overseas contingent is focusing on various African and other countries that would benefit greatly by this form of sustainable transport.
However there are difficulties with overseas shipping and distribution. These are gradually being overcome by working hand in hand with organisations and groups with a similar focus. We are gradually achieving the results we all aspire towards.
This is a difficult mission to organise but dedication yields results.
Any groups, organisations or companies that wish to assist in any way are most welcome to contact us.
Bicycles are an environmentally friendly means of transport, are easily maintained and cost efficient. Bicycles speed up the economy by carrying goods, running messages and aiding the sick. Bicycles are extremely versatile. Bicycles are also adaptable into other useful commodities such as:
- Transport for disabled people,
- Pumps,
- Windmills,
- Transportation of goods.
We still collect bikes, in any condition.
If anyone has any ideas on the mission , please contact any time.
email us
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Mark Pate
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