Power of You

2014Review Header

2014 was nothing short of amazing. At World Bicycle Relief, we were in awe of how many people stepped up; using their voices and encouraging their communities to mobilize individuals on the other side of the world. Jordan Rapp said it best:

THE POWER OF BICYCLES IS TRULY AMAZING. BUT EVERY YEAR, I’M REMINDED THAT NOTHING IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE POWER OF PEOPLE.

We couldn’t agree more. This year we saw children walk and ride to raise funds for students just like them; school groups activate their communities to empower entire villages; and athletes use their passion for pedaling to give the joy of mobility. And, that’s just the beginning. From fundraisers who raised $134 to those that raised $160,000, each one has a made a difference in someone’s life. We are so thankful for your commitment to the Power of Bicycles. We hope you get inspired to join us again in 2015!

While we can’t highlight every fundraiser, we wanted to share a couple reflecting the Power of YOU:

Strathcona 

Strathcona: In 2014, students from Edmonton’s Strathcona Composite High School used        their  annual Leadership program to raise money for WBR. By inspiring their school and community, their 2014 Chain Reaction campaign raised over $157,000– enough to mobilize 1,177 individuals. The Strathcona participants showed us the true definition of ‘students helping students.’ Strathcona’s Chain Reaction

 

Art for a Cause     

Art for a Cause: Haley Badenhop used her “First to Third” art series to share       differences between first and third world countries. Her beautiful artwork was displayed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and benefitted World Bicycle Relief. From #FirstToThird, Jackson Hole Artist Expresses Her Worldview

 

Swiss Students Walk

Students Walk for the Power of Bicycles: After seeing the Power of Bicycles in action on their trip to Africa, a Swiss duo organized two events for World Bicycle Relief. First, students from St. George school started their day by carrying their heavy bags while walking to school on empty stomachs. Next, they hosted a holiday party to share the mission of WBR with the grown-ups. Swiss Duo Inspires Dual Fundraisers

 

Governor Jerry Brown

Cyclists Chat With the Governor: John Heil and his cycling team rode their bikes to the California State Capitol Building and shared the work of WBR with Governor Jerry Brown. California Cyclists Share WBR From the Coast to the Capitol

 

Walk Five, Bike Five

Students Walk Five, Bike Five, and Raise $500: Maggie Elliot learned that not all students have access to cars and bus to get to school. Together with help from her mom, she and other students walked five miles and then biked back to compare the ease of travel. With some refreshments and local support, she proved that kids can make a change too. Walk for Wheels Walks Five, Bikes Five, and Raises $500

 

Norway Teens

Two Teens Cycle Across Norway: Nik and Leif wanted to do something epic over their summer vacation. The two friends decided to ride from the north to the south of Norway to raise funds for World Bicycle Relief. We look forward to seeing the film they created this year. Two Young Cyclists’ Epic Journey Across Norway

 

SpinDoc

SpinDoc Spinathon Gains Momentum: In their fourth year supporting World Bicycle Relief, New Mexico bike shop SpinDoc hosted a donation-based indoor cycling event with incentives from the shop’s suppliers and was able to raise nearly $5,000, helping riders achieve new goals along the way. SpinDoc Spins Its Way to $5000

 

Indy 500

Biking on the Indy Motor Speedway: SRAM opened the doors to their facility in Indianapolis to give tours of how the fastest wheels on the market are designed and manufactured. The following day, riders had the opportunity to ride on the Indy Motor Speedway to test their speed and skill from a single 2.5 mile hotlap to a 40k time trial, all the way up to a 100 mile century ride. Tour de SRAM Proves to be a Tour de Force

 

Bikemitzvah to Batmitzvah

Bikemitzvah to Batmitzvah: Elena Hochheiser decided to make her special day about others. As she prepared for her batmizvah, she decided she was going to bike from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. She used her 330 mile challenge to raise almost $5,000 for students just like her. Batmitzvah to Bikemitzvah

 

Brats for a Cause

Brats for a Cause: Ambassador Lisa Nelson not only rides for the cause but fires up the grill. She and husband, ‰Û÷Fatty’, satisfied riders’ hunger by offering free brats during registration at the Rockwell Relay in return for donations. Hundreds of brats later, the tip jar was overflowing. She even managed to capture a third place along the way in the co-ed division. Utah Bluffs and Homemade Brats

 

11-Year Old Takes on School Tour

11-Year Old Takes on School Tour: Griffin lives in Connecticut and decided he would show the importance of access to his education by riding to school every day, regardless of weather conditions. This year, Griffin polished his public speaking skills by visiting local schools to share more about World Bicycle Relief and the importance of a bike for students across the globe. 11-Year Old Griffin Takes On Local Schools Tour

 

Cyclists Go Retro

Cyclists Go Retro for World Bicycle Relief: In her second year fundraising for World Bicycle Relief, Holly Greenwood helped organize a group of local community members for a morning ride around Brisbane. Afterwards, riders enjoyed coffee and breakfast at a local cafÌ©. The ride continues to grow and gain momentum through Holly’s efforts. We’re looking forward to seeing what this year brings. Brisbane Cyclists Go Retro Once Again For WBR

 

Cyclists Go Retro

Midwestern Rider Tackles the Leadville 100MTB: Eric Hune tackled the world’s toughest mountain bike race as he rode from Leadville, Colorado to 10,200 feet above sea level. He organized local hill climbs to help raise funds and is captaining our second regional Team WBR team in Michigan this year. Team World Bicycle Relief: Eric Hune

As you can see, there are lots of ways to use your skills and talents to share the Power of Bicycles. A special thanks to all of our fundraisers. We hope you’ll rejoin the revolution in 2015.