If you want to skip the narrative and go straight to the campaign, please head here: https://join.worldbicyclerelief.org/Jesse-Steele/yourownidea
If you’re in for the narrative, read on!
Fundraising
The truth is, I hate fundraising. I hate asking people for money. I have a hard time promoting my own professional accomplishments, which costs the listener nothing but her time, so needless to say promoting a cause which costs real money is obviously even more uncomfortable for me. But alas, dear “listener”, here we are ;).
“Why are we here?” you may ask yourself. Why have I changed my tune? Honestly, I don’t know. I guess a number of reasons.
- I’ve fallen so in love with cycling that I’ve decided to bike across eastern Europe
- I feel like I’ve found a cause that I can wholeheartedly stand behind, and which also happens to celebrate the beauty of cycling (in this case, the doors cycling can open)
- I recognize my privileged lot in life and want to give back, and give others an excuse to do so as well
World Bicycle Relief
The cause I speak of, of course, is World Bicycle Relief, which gives bikes to primarily female students in rural Africa. The bikes are built like tanks, assembled using local labor, and given (primarily) to (female) students to increase their access to education, health care, and economic opportunities. Giving bikes to young girls tackles a number of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (specifically numbers 3, access to health care; 4, access to quality eduction; 5, gender equality; and 6, access to clean water).
The premise of World Bike Relief is that bikes provide access. To education. Water. Healthcare. Jobs. I couldn’t agree more. My bikes provide me access to all those things and more. I ride my bike everywhere. To work, to friends, to stores, to bars, to lakes, to mountains. I love biking. It’s a joy. It’s freedom. The boys in Queen got it write when they repeated “I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike” over and over!
Show your support
Sermon over. Basically, I’m obsessed with cycling, and I think World Bike Relief is a great cause. And if you were to support me vicariously by supporting them, I would be thrilled. You’re beautiful regardless.
To contribute directly to my campaign, please click here. You’re the best!