For the entire month of February, we are dedicating the entire month to support the incredible MASAKA Cycling Club in Uganda. To see the incredible work Masaka is doing, scroll down below on this page... But in short, Masaka exists to create fair and equitable opportunities for cycling talent in developing African nations... Through their clubhouse in Masaka, Uganda, the club has seen young men and women get access to coaching, community, and we have seen some of their riders reach the heights of the Pro-Peloton and World Championships!!

It is a privilege that our community here at G!RO can support Masaka's community in Uganda and beyond!

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So how can you help in February?

We are asking for donations of the following:

• 5 Road Race Bikes (sizes XS - L)
• Cycling Computers
• Workshop Bits, such as tools, lubricants & bar tape

Perhaps you have a bike you have considered selling or passing on... Or maybe you have a bike that you are not using anymore, which can go into the hands of this incredible organisation to affect real change happen in the lives of their riders.

If that is you, the please get in touch, we would love to hear from you!

We hope to be able to fill 5 Bike Boxes to send out there at the end of February.

Thank you!! x

CREATING HOPES ANS DREAMS THROUGH CYCLING

We have been proud to stand alongside Masaka for the last 6 years or so, and the work that Ross and his team have done out there is truly significant and having a lasting legacy. Your regular support, both financial as well as kit/bike donations is well received and going to good use.

Its an honour to stand with such a great community there in Uganda, and see how cycling is changing lives.

Over past few years we have see Masaka build their clubhouse brick by brick, and to see the riders who started there now have Pro Contracts is so incredble!

But there is work to do, and more lives that can be helped with cycling... so lets start now!

Our Purpose

The Masaka Cycling Club exists to create fair and equitable opportunities for cycling talent in developing African nations. 

Our Vision

We will bring global cycling together to remove barriers and fight for a more inclusive cycling community free of inequality.

#equalityforall

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Central Uganda is a very challenging region within the East African Nations and is home to the first known case of AIDS/HIV, a disease that has destroyed generations of Ugandans.

It boasts some extraordinary female and male cycling talent, yet this talent faces many daily barriers. Poverty, corruption, access to food & clean drinking water, basic medical support, safe infrastructure, equipment and opportunity to participate in races throughout the region to showcase this talent.

The project has been created to enable cycling fans and humanitarians from the world over to come together and use the power of the bicycle to remove some of these barriers and fight for a more inclusive cycling community free of inequality. We are Cycling Communities Building Cycling Communities. Thank you for seeing us and thank you for caring for us.

Seeing the breadkout of women cycling here in Uganda, Masaka needs more support than ever!

We need a lot of help to support and attract more girls to the club, smaller bikes, kit, sanitary support. Its amazing to see cycling breaking down long held cultural norms, and you can help!

CONTINENTAL AFRICAN CHAMPS https://www.africacycling2024.com/Uganda had its most successful African Champs on record, finishing 3rd on the medal table behind the powerful Eritrea & South Africa. The incredible news is, our Captain Nantume Miria won the Silver Medal in Womens Juniors (Results Attached). Miria split two powerful Eritrean riders. This has put her abilities firmly on the watch list. Next up for Miria is straight back into a UCI Development Camp before heading to Burundi for the Tour of Burundi (5 Day tour). Yahaya also did so well in his very first international event packed full of pro's. Elite Men's & Women's in Africa is a tough category. Two young Ugandan stars Abdu & Hatim who also represented their Nation and finished each event respectfully return to our club program over the next couple of weeks after 12 months being away for personal reasons. Fair to say we are really happy with the Elite end of our program.

UCI WORLD CYCLING CENTRE DEVELOPMENT CAMP https://www.uci.org/world-cycling-centre-south-africa-details/1njX2tcETtL7yfqV66k57aWe talk about the UCI WCC a lot and the important influence it plays in developing Africa's best cycling talent. Check out the link above for context. We are now in our sixth year, we have chased opportunity and jumped at chances for our riders that arose thinking we needed to grab on to the next best thing. What we have learned over the 6 years, is that composure and strategy are what is needed. Find the kids young, develop them to the best of our ability, and put them in a position to chase their hopes and dreams. Team Africa Rising https://teamafricarising.org/have taught us this. Sadly, once a rider reaches 22+ they are not likely to reach the professional format. So....we seek out any opportunity for them. Anything is possible for those in the 16-20 age window. If our Coach Owen identifies elite talent and the personal attributes needed in this age bracket we nominate those riders for the UCI WCC in Paarl South Africa to fast track their ability and expose them to potential opportunities. We have had four riders attend this camp to date. Miria the most recent. Hatim (17) will become the 5th in November. THE GOAL: For Hatim to represent Men's Juniors and Miria U23 at the upcoming World Champs in Rwanda.       

SANITARY PRODUCTSIf anyone has a connection with an organisation where we might be able to leverage some sanitary products to support the female program we would love to hear from you. Unfortunately we don't have stores in Masaka that stock disposable sanitary products to help the girls' continue training and the stores that do in Kampala are extremely expensive. It's a massive barrier we are trying to remove. Our best options are to send directly to the club from whatever Nation you live, send to me in Australia so I can post for you or I'll mule in when we take bike boxes etc. Please reach out if you have any exciting ideas.  

What? – This project is designed to be sustainable by way of many small recurring monthly donations from Cycling Fan’s the world over. We need 500 passionate and patient cycling fans to sign up for the cost of a coffee per month to build a truly sustainable program. There are 30 currencies to choose from in the below donorbox.

Monthly donations allow us to plan pathways to key races and events throughout East Africa and beyond. Your donations support the following key program elements:

1. Full time Club Administrator/Team Manager & Development Coach based in Masaka clubhouse.

2. Daily operation of the e-Racing Academy including, smart trainers, Zwift licenses, devices, essential services like power, WIFI, clean drinking water, food and security.

3. Supply of replacement parts and mechanical services to maintain club bicycles and equipment. 

4. Travel, food & accommodation support for riders travelling to domestic and global events to compete.

5. Cycling Scholarships for young members who meet certain performance and community behavior criteria.

Your Commitment - When you sign up, the secure Donorbox platform we use will send you an email every month which provides you with the flexibility to cancel or change your donation at any time. The Foundation has no control over your commitment.