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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, News

Community Bikes Gets Olympian Boost

Mon, Oct 25, 2010

Community Bikes Gets Olympian Boost

Community Bikes is teaming up with Olympic hopeful Kathryn Bertine to provide bicycles to families in need in the Caribbean country of St. Kitts and Nevis. The bicycles will be placed primarily with women and children without access to a bike as part of a broader outreach effort by the nation’s cycling federation.

“Bicycles can play a critical role in helping vulnerable women, children and families in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Bertine.  “It’s wonderful to be able to partner with Community Bikes to serve that need as a complement to the goal of the SKN Cycling Federation to build a strong program that engages women and young people.”

 Community Bikes coordinator Chuck Fox said that providing bikes to families in St. Kitts and Nevis helps to achieve an important goal.  “Kathryn’s personal story is inspiring, and her commitment to giving back to the communities that have helped her achieve her goals is terrific,” said Fox.  “The opportunity to partner with Kathryn and the cycling federation in St. Kitts and Nevis fits Community Bikes’ commitment to serving both our own community and our neighbors.”

Kathryn Bertine is a 1997 Colgate graduate, an author and a world class athlete.  A professional figure skater, she was presented an opportunity by ESPN to pursue the goal of making the 2008 Summer Olympics- in any sport- and chronicle the story.  The adventure led her to St. Kitts and Nevis, where she was granted dual citizenship in order to represent the small island country in women’s cycling.  She tells the story in her book, As Good as Gold.

She recently appeared at the Colgate Bookstore.

Community Bikes is a not for profit project that collects donated bicycles and places them, along with helmets and locks, with families in Madison County who can’t afford them.  Community Bikes recently partnered with Youth Policy Institute to send more than 165 bikes to the Malawi Children’s Village and the North Blantyre Malaria Relief Project in Malawi, Africa.

To donate a bike, make a contribution or to volunteer, contact Community Bikes at 824-8210.

Source: Community Bikes

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