Help Yemen's National Cycle Team get to their next race
Cycling in Yemen: an uphill battle
Maybe you saw the article in the Guardian last month about Yemen's Cycle Team last month... basically they are mad about pro cycling but short of cash to get to their next race, and lacking basic kit like tubes, tyres and race pumps.
This is a national team racing on twenty-year old bikes, with mismatched jerseys, and getting rocks thrown at them when they train. Yes, I know that cyclists don't have it easy in the UK either, but Yemen is one of the poorest Arab countries, and they are struggling to get hold of even basic equipment, or even get their tyres inflated to proper race pressure.
How you can help:
Make a donation via our IndieGogo campaign. The campaign ends on Sunday 18th so there are only 4 days left.
Where your money will go
Each pledge amount equates to an item of kit which the team is lacking. So, your donations will buy basic equipment — inner tubes, race quality tyres and track pumps, and matching jerseys and shorts for the team. However small, each and every donation will help the team to race a little closer to their true potential.
Here's how Yemen-based journalist Joe Sheffer described the situation:
It is inaccurate to describe the team as the national cycling team of Yemen, simply because they have lacked the resources to travel anywhere as a team since 2006. Riashi is the only member of the current team to have competed abroad. He says that when they arrived in Egypt in 2006 to compete in the Arab Club Championships, his Yemeni team were almost laughed off the starting line. "Our bikes were probably 20 years old, and our clothes worn … but we soon showed we are serious racers … we finished sixth out of 13 teams and received an apology," he says. Riashi, who competed in the 2008 Tour of Sharjah, is now preparing his team for the next challenge, this year's Arab Club Championships, despite some key shortcomings. "We are probably $2,000-$3,000 dollars short of money to even get our riders to the start line, beyond the problems with our equipment."
If you want to help spread the word, here are some links to use:
Post this campaign to Facebook
http://j.mp/QfJH0m
Send a tweet about this campaign with hashtag #yemencycleteam
http://j.mp/SKAV9R
Maybe you saw the article in the Guardian last month about Yemen's Cycle Team last month... basically they are mad about pro cycling but short of cash to get to their next race, and lacking basic kit like tubes, tyres and race pumps.
This is a national team racing on twenty-year old bikes, with mismatched jerseys, and getting rocks thrown at them when they train. Yes, I know that cyclists don't have it easy in the UK either, but Yemen is one of the poorest Arab countries, and they are struggling to get hold of even basic equipment, or even get their tyres inflated to proper race pressure.
How you can help:
Make a donation via our IndieGogo campaign. The campaign ends on Sunday 18th so there are only 4 days left.
Where your money will go
Each pledge amount equates to an item of kit which the team is lacking. So, your donations will buy basic equipment — inner tubes, race quality tyres and track pumps, and matching jerseys and shorts for the team. However small, each and every donation will help the team to race a little closer to their true potential.
Here's how Yemen-based journalist Joe Sheffer described the situation:
It is inaccurate to describe the team as the national cycling team of Yemen, simply because they have lacked the resources to travel anywhere as a team since 2006. Riashi is the only member of the current team to have competed abroad. He says that when they arrived in Egypt in 2006 to compete in the Arab Club Championships, his Yemeni team were almost laughed off the starting line. "Our bikes were probably 20 years old, and our clothes worn … but we soon showed we are serious racers … we finished sixth out of 13 teams and received an apology," he says. Riashi, who competed in the 2008 Tour of Sharjah, is now preparing his team for the next challenge, this year's Arab Club Championships, despite some key shortcomings. "We are probably $2,000-$3,000 dollars short of money to even get our riders to the start line, beyond the problems with our equipment."
If you want to help spread the word, here are some links to use:
Post this campaign to Facebook
http://j.mp/QfJH0m
Send a tweet about this campaign with hashtag #yemencycleteam
http://j.mp/SKAV9R
CycleLove — celebrating bike culture
www.cyclelove.net
www.cyclelove.net
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Comments
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There are so many more pressing problems in that part of the world - but this somehow seems to be part of the cure, and has to be worth supporting. Small donation sent!0
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I think you hit the nail on the head there.
Thanks for your donation sir!CycleLove — celebrating bike culture
www.cyclelove.net0 -
yeah, agree...will make a donation now0
