Help on Wheels

88Bikes (88bikes.org) is a great charity that provides bicycles to needy children around the world. I really like this nonprofit because it has no salaried staff or office, so all funds raised for projects go toward purchasing bikes and getting them to the recipients - all via the local economy. It costs about $88 for a new bike, hence the name.

I also love the idea of giving bicycles to young people. Bikes have always meant freedom and fun to me - I can still remember the thrill of receiving my first fixed gear (decades before it was hip) banana seat bike and riding it all over my neighborhood; even these days just the thought of riding my bike makes me happy. It's easy to imagine how meaningful the 88bikes wheeled gifts are to their recipients.

This fundraiser will support the 88Bikes 2012 project, which "will endow thousands of bicycles to girls, especially those having endured and transcended slavery and abuse, in regions from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia. We honor their heroism and hope that...the bikes will be catalysts for healing, health and, of course, happiness."

I'm encouraging small donations for this fundraiser - times are tough and budgets are tight for most people, but a few dollars from a few people will quickly add up to a bike, or even bikes. Unfortunately, but understandably, Razoo.com requires a minimum donation of $10, but if you'd like to give a smaller amount, that's totally cool - please get in touch with me and we'll figure out the best way to make that happen. I can be reached at joshisaway<at>gmail.com

88Bikes gives photos of donors to bike recipients and then takes a photo of the bike recipient to send to the donor(s), so please email me a fun photo of yourself if you donate! And if you can think of a catchier name for this fundraiser that we can use to ultimately make the donation, I'm open to suggestions!

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please check out the 88bikes.org site for more details about the nonprofit and its projects. Wishing you all Happy and Healthy Holidays!

-Josh