Survivor To Cyclist: Fund Gives Transformative Power Of Transportation

Donate $8 a month and this organization will provide bike maintenance, facilitate group rides, and fund bike education for someone in the developing world.

Bikes can be affordable, dependable transportation. But any owner of a bike knows the true price extends beyond the initial cost, with maintenance, parts, and gear adding up.

The Ride Forever Fund from 88bikes aims to cover these costs and scale the reach of its international bike-donation program.

88bikes started as a non-profit bike donation platform in 2003. For $88, donors can send a bike to an individual abroad, with every bike delivered in person.

Many thousands have received bikes for use as transportation to help better their lives. Several countries benefit from the program. So far, just in 2017 alone, the organization delivered 400 bikes in Cambodia.

Bike Donation And More

Since its inception, 88bikes has expanded beyond donating bikes. They also provide bike-maintenance training, group bike ride events, and they teach bike-based job skills.

Its most recent initiative, the Ride Forever program, aims at financing the extra costs of owning a bike. One month at a time, for $8.88, you can keep riders on the pedals.

Proceeds from the Ride Forever fund go to expand programs, orchestrate bike rides, run bike repair workshops, swap out spare parts, and donate bikes.

88bikes

In 2006, founders Dan Austin, Nicolas Arauz, and Jared Austin wanted to give 88 bikes to 88 kids at the Palm Tree Orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

After exceeding that goal, the group expanded, donating bikes to Uganda, Peru, Vietnam, Nepal, India, Ghana, Mongolia, and Tanzania.

And the donation extends beyond simply planting a bike in a foreign country. The bike is purchased from in-country merchants, and bike transport, assembly, and assistance is all handled locally.

So far, more than 6,000 bikes have been donated, with the bikes used for years. One recipient in the 2010 Mongolia campaign has ridden the same bike for the last seven years.

Ride Forever Fund

The Ride Forever fund is, as its name implies, covering bike costs so recipients may ride forever. While not a whole bike, the fund covers the little things.

The proceeds also go to expand or greenlight more challenging projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kolkata, India. And its programs cater to those especially in need.

88bikes’ Project10 initiative aims to deliver several hundred bikes to survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. And currently, thousands of survivors of human trafficking in the Philippines and Nepal are riding bikes donated through 88bikes.

Of course, donations are accepted in any amount beyond $8.

Want to spread your love for biking? Consider signing up for the Ride Forever Fund.