Leemisa Thuseho
THE Federation of Lesotho Cycling (FCL) on Friday received 594 bicycles of different types and sizes, along with accessories, from the Bikes for Lesotho Initiative under the US-based charity, Working Bikes.
Working Bikes is a Chicago-based non-profit that collects discarded bicycles, refurbishes them before redistributing them locally and globally as tools for strengthening communities by providing sustainable transportation and biking skills.
Through the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), FCL has so far received a total of 7000 bikes since 2012.
Under the leadership of its president, Dave Gorman, Working Bikes has been delivering bicycles to Lesotho since 2012 when he embarked on the initiative soon after he completed his tour of duty to the country as a US Peace Corps volunteer.
Receiving the bicycles, FCL President, Rammotang Makatile, thanked Gorman for the bicycle donation programme for Basotho, especially kids.
He said the delivery of this year’s batch is a milestone in the development of biking in Lesotho. The bicycles will be directed towards cycling development in clubs, schools and communities across the country.
“The focus of these bicycles remains talent identification and cycling development in schools and communities,” Makatile told the Sunday Express, adding that they are looking forward to distributing the bikes evenly across the country.