Cycling Unlimited getting closer to goals
By Diana Daghofer
Cycling Unlimited is getting closer– to taking seniors and those with mobility issues for outdoor rides on trishaws in Trail and Rossland. The group has been busy fundraising for the past few months and is happy to report some encouraging early results.
Co-chair Diana Daghofer says, “First, a great big thank you to everyone who donated to our Nutcrackers during Rekindle the Spirit of Christmas! Our donation jars were filled with over $330, and by adding that to our online campaign, we were able to double that amount.” Cycling Unlimited launched a crowdfunding campaign at the end of November. All online donations are being matched by a generous donor, so every dollar donated has double the impact. The campaign for Rossland – Help bring Hermi's Ride to Rossland — has raised over $8,000 towards their $16,000 online goal.
The campaign also has a site dedicated to Trail – A Trishaw for Trail. Organizers hope to have trishaws operating in both communities next spring.
Cycling Unlimited is the local chapter of Cycling Without Age (CWA), a movement started in 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The program is designed to help elders and others with limited mobility enjoy rides on a bicycle, in this case, a “trishaw.” The CWA trishaw, equipped with a ‘pedal-assist’ electric motor, provides a comfortable seat for one or two passengers at the front of the bike, piloted by a rider on the seat behind (see picture below).
The lower Columbia chapter, Cycling Unlimited, has partnerships with the City of Rossland and Columbia View Lodge in Trail, to reach the area’s seniors and others who cannot ride a bike. Rides will be offered free of charge to get people out enjoying the fresh air and the community around them on the trishaws.
The Rossland fundraiser is being spearheaded by Diana Daghofer. After starting work on Cycling Without Age last fall, Diana really wanted to take her Mom, Hermine (Hermi to her friends) out for a trishaw ride. She lived in Montreal and that chapter was not yet up and running. Unfortunately, Hermi passed away last September. Diana felt really sad that her Mom would never get out for a ride, but says, “Walking home from a presentation at the Senior's Centre in Rossland, I realized I could do the next best thing – raise funds for a bike in her name! Mom would be so pleased to help spread the fun and adventure of bike riding through our community!”
For more information on the program and fundraising campaign, go to www.Fundrazr.com and search for Cycling Unlimited. Both Rossland and Trail campaigns will come up. Every little contribution will help bring those open-air rides closer.
Cycling Unlimited is happy to recognize the generous support of the Rossland Health Care Auxiliary, Teck Trail Operations and the United Steelworkers, local 480.
To find out more about the program, including how to volunteer, please contact Diana Daghofer at diana@cyclingwithoutage.caor 250-362-5810.
Below: a demonstration trishaw in action — in Rossland.
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