On October 13th, Brussels Airlines’ first-ever Bike For Africa, North America Edition concluded its 6-day, 400-mile charity bike tour with a celebration at the ONE Hotel Brooklyn rooftop.
19 riders embarked on the 6-day ride from Niagara Falls, Canada to Brooklyn, New York. On the last day, they were joined by another 40 riders who cycled from New York City’s Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge Park.
After four successful editions of Bike For Africa in Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal / Gambia and Ivory Coast, Brussels Airlines brought its employee-driven charity biking tour concept to North America. Bike For Africa North America Edition raised funds for the Georgie Badiel Foundation, which builds wells to provide clean drinking water to the nation of Burkina Faso, and Malaika, which empowers Congolese girls and their communities through education.
At the celebration, Brussels Airlines’ employees proudly presented the monies raised from the bike tour to Badiel and Coursaris, the founders of Georgie Badiel and Malaika Foundations respectively. Each founder received a check for half of the total $60,000 raised.
“We have a strong connection to Africa. It is a fantastic continent that has much to offer both economically as well as in terms of tourism,” said Bernard Gustin, Brussels Airlines CEO.
“Bike For Africa was created back in 2011 as a team-building, to discover Africa from another point of view and to support local projects. Any assistance we can get to help the African population and also support young African entrepreneurs to take off is very welcome. In the name of all Brussels Airlines employees, I wish to thank every single participant and donor for their great support during our Bike for Africa US edition.”
In 2011, Brussels Airlines’ Corporate Social Responsibility Program, b.foundation, started the Bike for Africa charity ride with the intention of giving a helping hand to a number of NGOs and humanitarian projects that aid people throughout the continent of Africa. It is important to Brussels Airlines and its employees to support the people of Africa in a meaningful way through various charitable initiatives.
For more information, visit: www.bikeforafrica.be and www.bfoundationforafrica.com/
