https://www.rapha.cc/stories/rapha-foundation
The purpose of the Rapha Foundation is to build a better future for the sport of cycling by inspiring, empowering and supporting the next generation of racers. Stepping into its fourth year and backing dozens of globally reaching cycling organizations to date, the Foundation continues to support Rapha's mission to make cycling the most popular sport in the world.
This February, The National Cycling Institute of Milton will join a global network of grantees awarded to support community programs in growing the next generation of high-promise athletes. The Canadian-based cycling organization is set to benefit from the sixth round of funding, receiving $150,000 in support of its aim is to encourage, inspire and support underrepresented young people to thrive in the sport of cycling. NCIM Executive Director Chris Reid said "The Rapha Foundation grant will allow us to build on the work we've done in the first five years of the NCIM — to deepen and broaden our reach in the local community. The velodrome can be a catalyst for growing the sport in this country and the Rapha Foundation support goes a long way to helping accomplish that."
The funding provided to the National Cycling Institute Milton will allow NCIM to support and encourage the individual performance of U23, women and other underrepresented groups who face barriers in engaging with the sport.
The Rapha Foundation has been made possible by Steuart Walton and Tom Walton, Rapha shareholders, along with Simon Mottram, the founder of Rapha. Simon Mottram said, "Riding a bike has transformed my life and I believe that cycling can make the world a much better place for all of us. This passion for the sport has driven us at Rapha from day one and our mission is to get millions more people to make cycling part of their lives. The Rapha Foundation is a powerful vehicle to help make this a reality, by increasing cycling participation and creating pathways into the sport for people who have often been excluded. I'm very excited and proud that the Rapha Foundation is investing millions of pounds to build a better future for cycling across the World."
NATIONAL CYCLING INSTITUTE MILTON AND CYCLE CANADA
The National Cycling Institute Milton (NCIM) is a not for profit organization formed to advance cycling in Milton and across Canada. In partnership with the Town of Milton and Cycling Canada's Hop-On program, the NCIM offers a full range of indoor track cycling opportunities to service cyclists of all abilities. NCIM operates programming that spans from try-the-tracks all the way to advanced training for athletes. They also run youth high-performance programs as well as child out-reach via school trips and summer camps.
Matthew Jeffries, Chief Executive officer of Cycle Canada said: "We believe that all kids, regardless of background or ability, who pursue organized sport can realize complementary benefits in their physical and mental development, both on and off the bike. Cycling is a lifelong journey and we want to help more young Canadians set out down that road.."
Funding from the Rapha Foundation will help the NCIM to create better awareness of the sport of cycling as a lifelong pursuit. This will be accomplished by expanding NCIM's community programming beyond Milton and Southwestern Ontario through building upon their current three-pronged approach of 'Try the Track' programs for schools, summer camps and sports groups. The organization will support and encourage the individual performance of U23, women and other underrepresented groups.
About Rapha Foundation
The Rapha Foundation was created in 2019 by Rapha founder and CEO Simon Mottram, and shareholders Tom Walton and Steuart Walton to provide direct funding to organizations that introduce cycling to underserved
populations. As part of this effort, the Rapha Foundation strives to take aspiring racers on a journey
from their local park to podiums at the top of the sport on a global scale. For more information on how to apply, please visit www.rapha.com/foundation.
The Rapha Foundation is administered as a donor advised fund at an independent US-based charitable organization. All grants are subject to US rules and regulations for charitable donations (which apply to both domestic and international organizations).
About Rapha
Rapha was established in 2004 to address a need for stylish, high performance cycling clothing. It now provides products for every cyclist and continues to push the boundaries of innovation in cycle wear. Alongside this, Rapha has cultivated a global community of passionate riders who come together as members of the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC), the largest club of its kind in the world. Rapha’s retail model and unique brand values come to life in its many rides and events and global network of Clubhouses that combine retail, cafés and cycling culture all under the same roof.
