Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung launches #BicyclesChangeLives

Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung is Africa’s first ever UCI registered Professional Continental cycling team. The talented athletes in Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung race to build exposure for Qhubeka’s rural initiatives and ride to inspire potential new athletes within the community of Qhubeka bike recipients. Today the team launches its #BicyclesChangeLives campaign for 2014.

The team released the following statement on its website: “This year our initial goal is to raise R2,200,000 or 1,100 bicycles. This will mean a full container load of Qhubeka bicycles to be assembled at the plant in South Africa to give to people who have earned them by improving their environment, their communities or their academic results.

The riders on Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung have been behind the project donating a portion of their prize money to the charity but are now inspiring their social media followers to support the campaign.

Team Principal, Douglas Ryder says: “Qhubeka is incredibly important to the riders and staff on the team and it is one of the major reasons why we have attracted such fantastic talent to our team. Our partners also contribute towards Qhubeka through various ways, kit sales, bike sales, product sales & mobile contracts. We want to help as many people as possible by providing them with bicycles. By making a donation to Qhubeka, you are helping to change lives with bicycles.

• More than 44 000 bikes have been distributed by Qhubeka since 2005
• With a bicycle a child’s commute time to school is reduced by up to 75%
• Marks improve by an average of 25% for children who ride a bicycle to school
• Schools where children ride bicycles see attendance rates rise by 18% on average
• A bicycle increases a person’s carrying capacity by fives times
• Healthcare workers can visit more than double the amount of patients per day with a bicycle

Donate here to help us reach our goal and change lives with bicycles.”

Current South African Cycling Champ and Team MTN Qhubeka rider Jay Thomson has jumped on the bandwagon to raise money for Qhubeka and is auctioning off his SA Jersey. The proceeds are going to Qhubeka. Join in the auction by either posting your bid to @jayrthomson on twitter or to his email account jay@ryder.co.za.