Barnes Charity Bike Sale

Do you have a bike for the Big Cycle Recycle?

Even though it’s been running for ten years now, The Barnes Charity Bike Sale continues to attract more bikes and raise more money each year.

Trisha Hawkins, the mastermind behind the sale, reflects on how it has changed since the first year when they were given twenty bikes to sell. "‘When we first started, we never dreamt how popular it would become. Without doubt the success of the bike sale is due to such a wonderful team of volunteers and a fantastic response from the local community," she says. "‘And of course, knowing the money raised is going towards charitable causes such as the Age UK Barnes Green Centre, or Glassdoor, a local charity for homeless people, helps too."

Last year 150 bikes were brought in to be sold in St Mary’s churchyard on Barnes Fair Day. Pre-loved bikes are donated, or given for sale in return for a share of the proceeds. A team of enthusiastic volunteers check and clean all the bikes and make sure they are in working order and that in itself adds hugely to their value. The team of around 30 volunteers come from all walks of life and from all around the local community – from bike enthusiasts who use their knowledge to fix up the bikes to others who clean bikes, pump tyres and make sure everyone is kept happy with refreshments while they are working.

Volunteers fix, clean & prep the bikes

At the end of the sale, any left-over bikes (generally only children’s bikes) are offered to local charities where they can be put to good use. The bike sale is a great example of recycling for a good cause and is very environmentally sound. Trisha adds ‘It’s very satisfying to be recycling old bikes and making them fit for purpose again for new ownership.

If you have a bike to sell please see www.facebook.com/barnes bikesale or www.stmarybarnes.org/bikes for further details you can deliver your bike(s) to St Mary’s on June 24th, July 1st & 7th between 10-12 and July 6th between 10-12. If you need a bike, see you in the churchyard on 8 July.

June 22, 2017