With the help of Oaklands College we are organising the first St Albans CycleFest on Sunday 16th September 2018, from 10am to 3pm, to raise funds to buy more bikes, tools and equipment for our cycling project in the Kibera slums of Nairobi.
The event takes place at the Smallford Campus near St Albans and includes a series of cycling challenges and activities for everyone:
A free family fun ride – where the whole family can ride together- A Youth Sportif for under 18’s – complete as many laps as you want
- A team relay – four people complete a lap each
- The fastest lap – with prizes for each age group
- A static bike challenge – two bikes, side by side, to see which of you will go the furthest
- An obstacle course
- Learn to ride with Herts County Council
- Improve your bike handling with Go-Ride from British Cycling
- Try out some unusual bikes from the St Albans Cycling Campaign and WelHat Cycling
- Make your own drink on our smoothie bike
There are lots of other things to do too – like arts & crafts with The Creation Station, have your own caricature drawn by Cool Caricatures and play on the bouncy castle.
And there’ll be food, drink and ice cream stands too.
You can find more details and register to ride at CycleFest at Eventbrite
And if you register in advance, you’ll even get a free smoothie on the day.
A healthy alternative to life on the streets
Life in the slums of Kibera in Nairobi is tough by anyone’s standards. There is little income, few activities and many temptations – drugs, glue, gangs, crime, prostitution…
Our aim when we set up the Kibera Cycling Club was to offer kids something constructive to do. And it’s working.
They’re able to cycle for fun, learn bike maintenance, compete and hang out at the safe haven that is the base. The children tell us they are having fun, making new friends, and even learning to share.
And the Head teacher reports improved attendance – children who were previously often absent, now attend school more regularly as they must go to school if they wish to be part of the cycling club. Despite being a school in the Kibera slums, the school is the only one in Kenya with a cycling club.
One young girl has also reported that cycling is proving good for her asthma (before joining our cycling club, she was unable to take part in any physical activities).
If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at neil@redrubberball.co.uk or 07887 955643.