Annual School Bikes Africa Appeal Launched

Donegal County Council is pleased to be supporting and promoting Letterkenny Rotary Club’s annual School Bikes Africa Appeal in conjunction with Bryson Recycling.

As always, bicycles suitable for refurbishing should be strong and sturdy, mountain bike style, have minimum 24” wheel size and mountain bike type tyres. Racer style bikes are not sought as part of this collection. Suitable bikes can be dropped off at any of the Council’s six Recycling Centres (Laghey, Dungloe, Carndonagh, Stranorlar, Letterkenny & Milford).   Please check your local centre for opening hours, visit www.donegalcoco.ie or www.brysonrecycling.org. Connie Gallagher, Manager of Bryson Recycling said ‘We are thrilled to be supporting this worthy appeal yet again after the success it has seen in the last number of years and we look forward to a good response from around Donegal to this fantastic scheme yet again’.

‘Having drop off points throughout the county, facilitated by Bryson Recycling, has made collection of the bikes much easier. The additional storage capacity and transport to Loughan house has been a key reason behind the continued success of the School Bikes Africa campaign’ says Robert O’Connor President of Letterkenny Rotary Club. Donegal is one of eleven counties involved in this national appeal throughout Ireland. 

Donated bicycles will be transported to Loughan House, Co. Cavan one of the Irish Open Prison Centres, where they will be refurbished prior to being shipped off to The Gambia. To date, Rotary have transported over 5000 bikes to Africa, and the Irish Prison Service through Loughan House has been involved from the outset. 

Rotary Ireland has expanded its commitment to collecting, refurbishing and delivering unwanted bikes to school children in Africa giving them the chance of a better life and open up many more opportunities.   As many must travel long distances to and from school, often in searing temperatures and doing this on foot can be difficult at best, so having a bike can make a huge change for the pupil and family alike as it can be utilised in other ways to help out their communities.

While providing these children with bikes for school, Rotary are also helping those much closer to home, namely the prisoners at Loughan House Open Centre Co. Cavan who are also getting the chance of furthering their own education.   Their participation in this project allows them to study for a City & Guilds FETAC Bike Mechanics course which ultimately will help with their own rehabilitation into society and perhaps aid their job prospects in the long term, as well as the satisfaction of working on such a worthwhile charitable project.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Martin Harley added “I’m delighted to see the annual School Bikes Africa appeal again this year, to help breathe new life into old bikes.  It was a no brainer to take the opportunity to continue our involvement with Rotary and this campaign, as it is such a positive one. We are also delighted that the collection of suitable bikes can take place all year round at the six Recycling Centres here in Donegal”.

Donations are sought of the following types of suitable bicycles;

• strong sturdy bikes that can withstand rough terrain,
• bikes to suit both primary and secondary level students, with a minimum of 24” wheel size,
• in reasonable repair,
• and having mountain bike type tyres. 

For information on the opening times for your local Recycling Centre visit www.donegalcoco.ie or https://www.brysonrecycling.org/donegal-recycling-centres/