BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
World Bicycle Relief has recruited Steve Cromwell as development director in the UK.
The charity, set up by SRAM vice president F.K. Day in response to the 2005 tsunami, has gone from strength-to-strength with over 130,000 bicycles distributed to students, healthcare workers and entrepreneurs in the developing world.
Following the involvement of British cyclists and businesses, the UK arm of the charity was founded in July 2012 and now Cromwell will be heading up the day-to-day running of the organisation, supporting volunteers and donors as well as getting the message out about the great work being done by the projects in Africa.
Cromwell joins after working at Fisher Outdoor Leisure as brand manager for bikes and PowerBar.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to build on the great work already done by the UK trustees and volunteers and I’m thrilled to be joining an organisation which is transforming lives through the power of bicycles," said Cromwell. "It is a compelling story because of the simplicity of the programmes they put in place, the effective measurable change they can produce and the sustainable legacy it intends to leave behind. A bicycle, which we take for granted can have a huge impact on the life of a schoolgirl or an aid worker in rural Zambia.”
Lucy Lynch, WBR UK trustee, added: “It’s an exciting time for World Bicycle Relief and bringing Steve on board will mean we can really gain momentum here in the UK. The charity will benefit hugely from having a full time Development Director and I’m looking forward to all the partnerships we can build with the British cycling industry in the coming months”
World Bicycle Relief UK is looking to work with British cycling businesses to create fundraising and merchandising opportunities and anyone in the UK who would like to get involved should contact Steve Cromwell at scromwell@worldbicyclerelief.org.
Trek recently pledged to match contributions to the charity made in July, hoping to raise enough to supply 1,300 bicycles into Africa.
