Area residents interested in getting a good deal while doing a good deed should head out to the Bicycles for Humanity auction Saturday.
It’s time for the organization to ship bikes they’ve collected to Ghana, and they’re holding their annual auction to raise the funds needed to do so.
“We have two cars, a boat trailer an electric bike and a lot more,” said Keith Germaine, who has been a part of Biccyles for Humanity for 11 years.
One of the cars, he said, is a 2006 Honda Civic with only 44,000 kilometres on it. The aim of the auction is to raise $10,000 for shipping costs.
If they raise over and above that amount, they’ll send the rest to the area the bikes are going.
Germaine explained the people of Ghana need all the help they can get and the affect on the lives of those who receive the donation is significant.
“When I was there, I know a bike was a huge luxury,” he said, noting he lived in Ghana for two years. “The only bike I could buy was a cheap Chinese bike, and the crank broke on the way home.”
For those who have to travel between villages for work, or for medical professionals, the need for a reliable bike is paramount.
To ensure the bikes are long lasting, Germaine said recipients are given a one-day workshop on how to care for the bikes. “They also have to donate something to ensure they have a vested interest,”he said.
This year’s first 40-foot container, holding up to 450 adult bikes, will be sent to Ghana bringing the total number of bikes sent from this community to Ghana to around 7,500.
The auction will take place Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at St. Charles Garnier church, 3645 Benvoulin Rd. in Kelowna.