free2cycle to integrate charitable giving option for cyclists

free2cycle is encouraging users to give back to good causes through pedal power.

As part of the initiative’s commitment to improve health, wellbeing and the environment, the enterprise is now integrating a new charitable giving option.

Currently, free2cycle cyclists are incentivised to commute by a two pence per mile reward which goes towards bike servicing costs or accessories at their local retailer.

However, the new addition will give cyclists the freedom to donate this to a chosen charity.

free2cycle CEO Eric Craig said: “Improving peoples’ health, wellbeing and our environment are the values we built free2cycle on.

“Getting more people, more active, more often, not only reduces individuals’ risk of major health incidents, but also helps improve our environment for the benefit of all.

“But now it’s time to extend this goodwill network further, by increasing the impact these cyclists can have on the causes they care about.

“Supporting charities provides our cyclists with another reason to ride, facing a few raindrops during a commute becomes insignificant when you realise that each mile you ride is supporting your preferred charity and helping those in need.”

For a cyclist riding 25 miles per week, a 15-minute commute each way cycling at an average pace, the initiative will generate almost £25 per year for the charity.

free2cycle hopes to raise close to £1 million for charities over 12 months, a figure based on just over 42,500 people, less than 0.2 per cent of the working population commuting by bike with free2cycle.

Executive director of fundraising, marketing and communications at Macmillan Cancer Support Richard Taylor said: “Fundraising is incredibly challenging at the moment for many reasons.

“Despite technology coming on leaps and bounds, theoretically making it easier to donate quickly and easily, it is becoming increasingly hard to encourage consumers to part with their hard-earned cash.

“So incentives such as that being introduced by free2cycle are very welcome and will provide a new source of much needed voluntary income to charities.

“Given the tangible benefits to health that cycling provides, we at Macmillan Cancer Support are incredibly excited by this new initiative, which will help us support the increasing numbers of people living with cancer.”

The option to give to charities is available to all free2cycle cyclists from 1st September.