California: Locals Team Up to Send Bikes to HIV-Positive Kids

Mike's Bikes of San Rafael, Calif., has teamed with local charity Our Fertile Ground (OFG) to provide bicycles to HIV-infected youth in South Africa. OFG provides outings and counseling for children with HIV/AIDS, but cannot afford to sponsor this year's camp. The bicycles will enable some of the OFG campers to join South Africa's internationally known Cape Argus Bicycle Tour to raise both camp funds and HIV/AIDS awareness. Robert Shea, OFG co-founder, stated that five bikes had been donated, but five more were needed so that ten OFG riders could participate.

When questioned about his interest in the project, Mike's Bikes Founder Ken Martin replied that the company has bike projects all throughout South Africa. This made the request from a local person who is equally passionate about Africa and bikes an easy one to fulfill. Martin commented that he learned about the charity because of the need for five bikes, but he is hoping to send thousands of bikes for the community there. Martin has donated 15 bicycles so far.

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