The total number of bikes that have been collected so far has reached 1321!!!

On Jackie’s latest collection trip, she with her trusty helper Bob Taylor, collected another 50 bikes which now makes the astounding total of 1321 bicycles that are dismantled by the ReCycle charity in Colchester and shipped to communities in Africa where the provide work for the people who re-assemble the bikes, repair and service them and sell parts.

The young women in the communities benefit by using the bikes to collect water more quickly and efficiently than by collecting water on foot. This allows the young women much more time to attend school which, in the end, will not just benefit them but their families and the whole community.

The bikes are also used by adults to take their produce to markets and to find work further afield where there is no other form of transport.

Recycling the bicycles in this way is not only, an ecologically efficient way to dispose of the bikes, but a life-changing benefit for the far-flung communities that receive them.

Jackie’s initiative in starting to collect these un-wanted, un-used bikes in Rayleigh, Hockley, Southend, and the surrounding area four years ago seems to have no end. Jackie continues to be inundated with offers of donated bikes and, as long as the offers continue Jackie and Bob will arrange to collect them.

Jackie thanks all the people who have donated bikes over the years and Rotarian Steve Gale who provides one of his “Steve’s Self Drive Hire” vans cost-free to enable the collections to take place and, of course Bob Taylor and all the other helpers at the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill who have taken part in the collections over the years. 

If you have a bicycle that you don’t use anymore and would like it to make a huge difference to the lives of the people in those communities in Africa, please contact the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill on bikes@rayleighmillrotary.org.uk