More than 100 bikes handed in to help transform lives in rural Africa

A small village has delivered a big result. Members of Thornhill and District Rotary Club are celebrating an outstanding response to their recent bike appeal, collecting second-hand bicycles to help transform lives in rural Africa.

Despite Thornhill’s modest size, the community’s generosity was anything but — with a fantastic 120 bicycles donated by big-hearted locals over the course of the appeal.

This week, the bikes made the journey from Thornhill all the way to Re-Cycle’s warehouse in Essex, where our team will check them over before shipping them abroad to start new lives.

Rotary member Norman Brough said the club was delighted with the turnout:

“We are absolutely delighted at the number of bikes that people have donated. People living in rural Africa can walk for miles a day to collect water or to get to school or work. A bike can change someone’s life, and we are pleased to be able to help Re-Cycle with their mission to help people in Africa access sustainable transport.”

Every bike told its own story. One donation stood out in particular — a bicycle in excellent condition, worth a considerable amount of money.

“When we asked the man if he was sure he wanted to donate it, he told us he was originally from South Africa and knew exactly how much it would mean to someone there to have a bike.”

The club’s support didn’t stop at collection. Thornhill and District Rotary also arranged for the bikes to be transported the full distance to our Essex warehouse, with Loch Lomond Group kindly picking up and delivering the bikes free of charge. The delivery arrived safely in mid-January.

A huge thank you to everyone in Thornhill who donated a bike, to Thornhill and District Rotary Club for organising the appeal, and to Loch Lomond Group for getting the bikes to us. Together, you’re helping turn unused bikes into new opportunities — one journey at a time.