Bicycle Network is fighting to reinvent its beloved Ride2School program, which recently lost $700,000 in funding. And a generous donation of $30,000 from RACV will help keep the student education and behaviour change program running a little longer.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack says a fundraising campaign, the first of its kind run by the member-based bike riding organisation, has received overwhelming support in the last few weeks. Bicycle Network’s members and the community have raised a further $17,800 which, with the donation from RACV, brings the total close to an initial fundraising target of $50,000.
“We thank everyone immensely for their support whether it was monetary or through their encouragement and recognition of the important role Ride2School has played in the community for 17 years," McCormack says.
“People have told us the program means too much to too many people to let it end, and they have encouraged us to keep up the fight.
“The initial fundraising amount will allow us to continue to work with a handful of the schools on our existing list, but there are many more that will miss out. We also have a long waiting list of new schools that have never experienced the benefits of Ride2School.
“We are encouraged by the interest and have since increased our overall target to $100,000, but even that will only buy us a short amount of time,” McCormack says.
RACV General Manager - Mobility, Julia Hunter says the donation has a natural synergy for both member organisations and is pleased the donation will help schools in disadvantaged and regional areas.
“RACV supports access to all forms of transport including bike riding. We have provided this support so the Ride2School program can continue to help kids learn how to ride safely.
“It is vital that campaigns and programs like this exist to educate young bike riders about safety. Bike riding is a fantastic transport option that helps kids and families to be active whilst also being a convenient option for many short trips such as to and from school,” Hunter says.
Ride2School supports thousands of students in schools across Victoria to learn bike and road safety skills and empowers them to adopt healthy habits. The program supports schools to develop safe routes that encourage children to travel actively and helps build robust communities. Bicycle Network began the pioneering program in 2006 to combat a dramatic decline in the number of children riding or walking to school.
Ride2School has been funded by the Victorian government and affected by successive cuts over the years. Sport and Recreation Victoria advised it would discontinue funding of $700,000 per year in June due to the introduction of a new active transport program introduced in the State Budget.
“We are working to revise the program and work with other organisations, such as RACV, that recognise the importance of the humble bicycle in the realm of preventative health. We must save Ride2School and keep our kids active and safe,” McCormack says.
For more information, please visit the campaign fundraising page to support this life-changing program.
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