Indianapolis - June 2, 2021 - World Bicycle Relief's signature ride, Pedal to Empower, returns for a second year this Saturday, June 5 2021.
The event aligns with World Bicycle Day on June 3 to internationally celebrate the bicycle as a symbol of human progress and advancement, and World Bicycle Relief expects 1,000 riders in 50 countries to participate virtually in self-guided rides. It will additionally host three small, COVID-safe, in-person rides in greater New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco.
"Pedal to Empower gives individuals across the globe the opportunity to turn their bike ride into something bigger," said World Bicycle Relief event manager Sonja Ejups. "By experiencing the freedom and joy that cycling brings, it's easy to understand just how much of an impact one bike can have on the lives of women and girls in need."
For women and girls in developing countries, longstanding cultural and physical barriers to gender equality have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, before the pandemic, UNESCO estimated that 132 million girls worldwide were already out of school. Now, another 11 million are at risk of not returning as schools reopen. The bicycles distributed by World Bicycle Relief provide critical access to not only education, but healthcare and livelihoods as well.
Through Pedal to Empower, participants will help raise money and awareness of World Bicycle Relief. The event is open to riders of all abilities and they have the choice to participate at one of the live events, riding solo or with a group in their locale, or at home on an indoor trainer.
World Bicycle Relief created a Pedal to Empower app, which offers fun prompts and challenges, DIY ride guides, and motivating messages from special guests. Riders can connect and create a community with other local and global participants and share photos and videos from their activities. Funds raised from the event will be used to procure $150 Buffalo Bicycles for women and girls in Africa and South America.
Summarized Ejups: "The global event will bring together people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to help break down barriers with bikes. Together, we can change the world."
Event Overview
- Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021
- Event website and registration: http://www.pedaltoempower.com/
- Facebook event page: https://facebook.com/events/3521408251321638/
- Downloadable assets: Available here
- Hashtags: #pedaltoempower #powerofbicycles
- Contact: Email Sonja Ejups at sejups@worldbicyclerelief.org for additional information
About World Bicycle Relief
Founded in 2005, World Bicycle Relief mobilizes people through The Power of Bicycles®. World Bicycle Relief accomplishes its mission by distributing specially designed, high-quality bicycles through philanthropic and social enterprise programs. These purpose-designed bicycles are built to withstand the challenging terrain and conditions in rural, developing areas.
In areas where transportation options are limited, a bike is a life-changing tool that helps girls transform their futures. Entrepreneurs use bicycles to increase productivity and profits. Students attend class more regularly and their academic performances improve. And health workers visit more patients in less time, providing better, more consistent care. World Bicycle Relief also promotes local economies and long-term sustainability by assembling bicycles locally and training field mechanics to service the bicycles.
To date, World Bicycle Relief has delivered 550,742 bicycles and trained more than 2,500 field mechanics in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. World Bicycle Relief is a registered nonprofit in the USA, Canada, U.K., Germany, Switzerland and Australia, and has assembly facilities in Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
