BIKE to CAP AIDS


For more information on this year's BIKE to CAP AIDS campaign (to be held June 2007) and to register, sponsor a rider, or make a donation to the campaign, please click here.

BIKE to CAP AIDS is an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic while also demonstrating to Canadians that they can make a difference. Funds raised through the BIKE to CAP AIDS campaign help to provide African HIV/AIDS workers with bicycles to support their work. It costs only $200 to put a bicycle into their hands - letting them reach 5 times as many people).

Toronto FAQ | Vancouver FAQ

Many bikes have already been sent to Africa! Where have the bikes gone?


BIKES MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

Over the past decade, many African non-governmental organisations have formed in an attempt to address the impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. A common strategy used by most of these organizations is to recruit, train and support community-based volunteers to be HIV/AIDS educators, caregivers and advocates. These individuals go from community to community and home to home to:

• organize prevention activities such as dramas and community meetings
• provide care to bedridden people with AIDS
• offer support and assistance to guardians - usually grandmothers - who look after people with AIDS and their children
• help orphans find new homes and stay in school
• support and monitor the distribution of antiretroviral drugs and AIDS treatments to people living with HIV/AIDS

While it often seems that there are no limits to the dedication of these workers, their ability to serve people is limited by their lack of transportation. Without vehicles and with poor or non-existent public transit, these HIV/AIDS workers spend much of their time walking from village to village and home to home - time that could be spent serving people in need.

It is neither feasible nor practical to provide motorized vehicles to HIV/AIDS workers, but it IS POSSIBLE to provide them with bicycles. A bicycle is a simple, sustainable and affordable technology that has been proven to dramatically increase the number of people an HIV/AIDS worker can serve.

In some instances a simple bicycle has been able to quadruple the number of people served by an HIV/AIDS worker. Rather than educating 200 people per month about HIV prevention, they can reach 800 with these messages. Instead of caring for only 10 bed-ridden people with AIDS, they can visit 40 per month. And they can support 100 AIDS orphans each month - compared to only 25 when they don't have a bicycle. In total, one simple bicycle can impact over 900 more people each month.

It costs only $200 to put a bicycle into the hands of an HIV/AIDS worker. That's right: a mere $200 CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE and have a significant impact on the struggle against HIV/AIDS in Africa.


Not just any Bike | The California Bike


The fact of the matter is that not just any old bike will do. The rugged terrain in Africa demands a top-quality bike, a bike that is affordable, durable, user-friendly and attractive. The California Bike was designed by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, specifically for Africa . You could call it a workhorse of a bike.

The California Bike is a six-speed bicycle with quality parts. The Bike comes ready to ride with a safety bell, cargo carrier, and mudguards. The bike is being distributed to health care workers, school children and women's business collectives thanks to donor support, and is also being sold through a cooperative network of indigenous bike dealers.

• Quality Componentry: SRAM 6-speed GripShift; Matrix 550 alloy steel rims and hubs; Shimano freewheel; Wellgo pedals; Kenda K-184 special touring tires; Trireed handgrips; KMC chain.
• Standard Accessories: Afritour rear cargo carrier; Limpopo mudguards front and rear; Wildebeest bar ends; water bottle cage; water bottle; kickstand.
• Safety Features: Comprehensive set of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved Cateye reflectors; steel safety bell, signal yellow frame color (maximum visibility); linear pull alloy "V" brakes.
• Durability Features: Derailleur protector; fully encased cables; thornproof tubes; solid alloy steel brake levers; hi-tensile steel frame. Size: 46cm
• Price: Price will vary based on quantity, application, local import duties and value added tax.

For further information on the Bike to CAP AIDS campaign and how you can become involved please contact CAP AIDS at capaids@sympatico.ca