Eleanor Foundation to accept only certain types of bike
A CHARITY that has supplied more than 1,600 cycles for use in Africa is having to be more selective over the types of machine it can accept.
Since 2013, The Eleanor Foundation has been sending bikes donated by islanders to the Colchester-based UK charity Re-Cycle Bikes for Africa for onward shipment. Bikes for Africa currently works in Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.
The Eleanor Foundation is preparing to despatch its next consignment of more than 200 cycles but it must meet new requirements.
'Re-Cycle has changed its parameters and will no longer accept bikes with wheels of less than 20in. – basically children's bikes,' said co-ordinator Terry Iles.
'Also, they can't accept racing bikes with drop handlebars or bikes with full suspension.'
Mr Iles and Mike Webber have taken over as joint co-ordinators for the cycle project from Allister Carey – Eleanor's father who founded the charity. Mr Carey said the men's help would enable him to focus more on the charity's other initiatives such as water and health projects in Tanzania.
He said the support of the Guernsey people had been overwhelming and he hoped it would continue.
'Originally we thought we'd be lucky if we got 250 bikes,' he said. 'We expected the whole thing to last about six weeks and here we are four years later and bikes are still coming in.'
