As the cycling world’s eyes turn towards Yorkshire for the start of the Tour de France, a Huddersfield congregation have turned their hearts towards their neighbours in their link parishes in Tanzania by sending them bicycles to help raise them out of poverty.
The congregation of St Philip & St James’ Church in Scholes have raised enough money to buy ten bicycles for their link church in the village of Luanda in Tanzania.
The bikes which cost £70 each, will help people in the village of Luanda by boosting the local economy and helping the poorest villagers to break out of poverty.
As the vicar, the Revd Richard Burge, explained: “The poorest people in the world often have no means of transport but with a bicycle they can start to make simple changes in their lives.
“Without a bike they have to walk to market, they can’t carry a lot and it takes ages to get anywhere.
“With a bicycle they can carry more, so get a better price for anything they sell, and it takes them a fraction of the time.
“Small things like this can make huge changes to the poorest people, ” he added.
The church in Scholes has been linked with Luanda in the Ryogoro area of Tanzania for many years and has sent footballs, mosquito nets, goats and many other items over past years.
Now they have set themselves a goal - they want to send bicycles to people living in all four of their link parishes as part of their Harvest Festival this year.
Said Richard: “It is a great opportunity to be able to make a great difference and I guess that sending bicycles from Yorkshire as we prepare for the start of the Tour de France is particularly fitting!”