88Bikes

Back in 2007 Sandra Uesugi of Oregon donated one of the first 88 bikes to our first endowment site in Cambodia. Nearly 20 years later, she continues to donate monthly! We followed up with her to get her take on why 88bikes has resonated…

Sandra: “In first learning about 88 Bikes, I leapt at the opportunity to share the joys of riding free through the small act of sharing a bike. I donated that first bike (in 2007) as a gift to my friend Rob and several others to honor his passing as well as being a monthly supporter.

"Even prior to the inception of 88 Bikes, Rob and I were fans (True Fans, you might say) of Dan Austin’s projects. Seeing the documentary of his ride across the US with his brother Jared and friend Clint deeply influenced our cross-country ride on a tandem a couple years later.

"In many ways, 88 Bikes is my present day connection to Rob, always a fighter for social justice. Empowering vulnerable women and children, especially girls, with such a simple yet powerful machine is a no-brainer. My heart swells whenever I receive updates and Moments of Joy, imagining the delight filling the streets, and I am proud to be a small part of such a big impact.”

(This favorite all-time pic is from the first Moment of Happy, January 12, 2007 in Cambodia)

A beautiful day for a first bike ride... 100s of girls in Cambodia set off on adventures after the Moment of Happy...

As we approach 20 years of work we’re highlighting a few donors who have been with us since inception.

Way back in 2007 Lauren and Debra Gagner donated $88 toward one of the first ever bikes for our first ever Moment of Happy in Cambodia.

Debra and Lauren: “From Bike #6 to Bike #12482, being involved with 88Bikes, from the beginning to now, has been a feel good experience all along! I think, over the years, we have donated around a dozen bikes, participated also via monthly donations, and supported Seamless Possibilities. All wonderful! What a sweet and simple concept — buying bikes, getting them to kids where a bike will change their lives, and connecting us with photos, all making the world a smaller, happier, healthier place.

"We still look forward to getting photos of kids with bikes along with their location and future aspirations. When we also see them holding a photo of us it helps us feel even more connected.

"Thank you for all the 'Moments of Happy' and congratulations on reaching 20 years! It's amazing and wonderful how little things can spiral up and spread out so beautifully!