Jole Rider ”Joins up” Rotary

Twelve Rotary Clubs have joined forces to colllect 240 bicycles and more than 3000 books to push start the district’s Jole Rider project.

The first 40 foot container left the warehouse in Lisburn on Saturday May 18 bound for the Jole Rider headquarters in Wiltshire on the first leg of the journey to Gambia.

This latest consignment boosts the UK total contribution to something like 10,000 bikes, with all particapating Clubs collecting the £10 per bike and 50p per book required to meet the cost of shipment.

Jole Rider founder David Swetenham is naturally delighted and said ‘I am astounded by the efforts of Rotarians in Ireland’.

The Rotary Clubs of Lisburn and Limavady had hosted a St Patricks Day sponsored cycle run from the Peace Bridge in L’derry to the Roe Park Hotel and the participants, now nicknamed the ‘Paddy Riders’ helped boost proceeds for Jole Rider to an impressive £4500.

Lisburn Past President Trevor Stewart and Limavady Past President Peter Jack spearheaded the project having been inspired by  David Swetenham’s appeal for help at the RIBI conference in dublin in April.

Trevor took this on board and visited various Clubs to give vocational ‘Coffee’ job talks and grabbed the opportunity to make a plea on behalf of Jole Rider for used bikes and support for the project.

Peter was motivated to take part in an ‘Iron Man Competition’, and single handedly raised more than £2000

Johnsons Coffee kindly donated trucks to collect the bikes and books from around the country and it was from their headquarters in Lisburn that he first container was loaded and dispatched.

Trevor and Peter were gobsmacked by the whole hearted support of fellow Rotarians and really appreciated the efforts of the Rotary Clubs of:-

Lagan Valley,  Newry, Banbridge, Armagh, Dungannon, Newtownards,Ballymoney, Ballycastle and Cookstown

Peter and Trevor want to make it bigger and better next year and ask any club interested in joining forces next year with a view to filling two containers with bikes and books to contact Trevor

Mobile                     0715577146

E mail                    “Trevor Stewart” <jtlrestaurants@btinternet.com>

Photos of Jole Rider events are on the Gallery on this site