Many thanks to Dave Kitching for this latest news from the Vectis Roads Cycling Club. Ed
In the last year the Vectis Roads Cycling Club has updated its team kit. This left the club with a large quantity of unsold “old” kit. We tried to sell it off to members but were still left with much kit. The total cost of the kit that remained was over £1,000 and included shorts, racing jerseys, skin-suits and training tops.
It was decided to find a cycling club in Africa and to give the kit to them. Not an easy task.
The search began
Using FaceBook contact was made with the Global Cycling Network (GCN). They were asked if they knew of people in Africa who could be trusted to receive this donation of kit.
In return we given the name of an administrator of Team Rwanda based in Kigali. This lady, an American, was helping to build a national cycling team for the country of Rwanda.
The underlying principle behind the team was to use the sport of cycling to bring the different communities of the Tootsies and the Hootoos together after the horrors of the genocide 20 years ago.
Success!
A number of emails were exchanged and a relationship developed. It was clear that Team Rwanda were doing a superb job and were reaching out to the whole country and that they were finding extraordinarily talented cyclist in the most deprived of communities and the most difficult of circumstances.
The VRCC were put into contact with a mobile telephone network engineer, based in London that worked in Rwanda and it was arranged to deliver the kit, a large suit case full, to him so that he could take it to Rwanda.
Rising from the Ashes
At that meeting The VRCC were informed about a documentary film called “RISING FROM ASHES” that had recently been filmed that told the story of Team Rwanda and their mission to bring the country together.
In May representatives of the VRCC were invited to attend the European Premier of the film in London.
The Premier was held in Leicester Square and the Rwandan cyclist Adrien Niyonshuti was present. Adrien was the flag bearer for the Rwandan Team at the 2012 Olympic Games and the first Rwandan to take part in an Olympic cycling event. Adrien took charge of the donated cycling kit and took it with him when he returned to his country.
Proud with donation
The VRCC are delighted that our donation of cycling kit has made it to Rwanda. It has been given to a school / cycling academy for the use of young and aspiring cyclists in that country. We are proud to see our team colours and name being put to excellent use in helping both young cyclists in this developing country and doing something to help bring the country of Rwanda back together and to heal the wounds of the events of the early 90s.
Image: Young cyclists from the cycling academy in Kigali wearing the VRCC kit. The man in the white shirt is Adrien Niyonshuti the Olympic cyclist.
