A bike can change a life in a poor country. Yet for millions of people on the lowest incomes, a new bicycle is financially out of reach.

Bicycles for Humanity has the simple aim of enabling people to raise funds and collect unwanted bicycles to send to reliable partners in developing countries. Its mission is to empower people by providing mobility through the use of bicycles.

 

The newest chapter of B4H (B4H Montana) was established in early 2010 by Dan Austin, with the help of Austin-Lehman Adventures. ALA helped kick-start the program by donating 120 of our beloved Gary Fisher mountain bikes.

 

ALA has announced B4H as its charitable partner and has singled out the African community of Ngoma, Namibia, as its newly adopted beneficiary. Read on to see how ALA is helping to empower the residents of this village and support the global efforts of B4H.

Austin-Lehman is coordinating a seven-day, all-inclusive fund raising bike tour through Tuscany, October 2-8, 2010. Proceeds from this trip will help to develop a new Bicycle Empowerment Center in Namibia that offers distribution and repair services

 

Travelers on this charity bike trip will cycle amidst Italy’s blissful Tuscany region for a once-in-a-lifetime fitness adventure that’s equally fun and benevolent. This expertly guided journey begins and concludes in Florence, and carries on through some of the world’s most stunning countryside – quintessential golden-green Tuscan landscape dotted with sheep, castelli, cypress trees and olive orchards..

Austin-Lehman Adventures will donate $1,000 per participating cyclist to Bicycles for Humanity, with 100% of the proceeds directly earmarked to develop a bike shop and cycling support center in Namibia.

 

In 2011, ALA will launch a 10-day excursion in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia, Africa. Highlights of this philanthropic multisport adventure include the village of Ngoma - recipient of ALA's charitable contributions in tandem with Bicycles for Humanity; a day spent in Victoria Falls, and travel along the mighty Zambezi River.

 

"Knowing that our old ALA bikes are a terrible thing to waste, it was a natural idea to mobilize our company on behalf of this extraordinary grassroots-based organization," says Dan Austin. "We have found that ALA travelers tend to be globally conscious and socially responsible, and our alliance with B4H is a perfect complement to their values and those of our company. The intrinsic benefits for the cyclist are as priceless as the goodwill it presents to the people of Namibia...hope on two wheels."

Stay tuned to austinlehman.com for more details about this new and exciting African adventure! To connect with B4H and B4H Montana, please join their Facebook page.

 

 

"This was one of my favorite vacations! It was an active trip coupled with tons of cultural awareness and nature. This is my idea of a great vacation!"
~ Gail DiLisio, North Salem, NY

 

In our next issue...
Fall Adventures - Why Autumn is a Great Time for an Active Vacation!

Spend a week exploring on land, river and horseback, off the well-beaten touristpath in the oldest US national park.

Kayak with African penguins, float an arm's length from aSouthern Right Whale and ride horseback through coastal forests of fynbos