November 30, 2021 – Mobility is an essential element of development strategies that aim to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced by the United Nations General Assembly. Overlooked as a development tool, a bicycle is an important economic resource and asset that unlocks access to education, healthcare, and livelihood activities. In support of Baywa r.e’s sustainability efforts and in partnership with nonprofit Wheels 4 Life, the company donated 40 new bicycles to frontline health workers in a community in northern Uganda to ease the burden of transport and reduce time spent walking to patients’ homes.

The health workers are volunteers who distribute medicine across remote locations. Prior to the donation, the group was walking an average of nearly two miles per day to villages to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to elderly, person with disabilities, children at risk and HIV+ patients that have been in lock down due to the high rates of new COVID-19 infections. Health workers received strong, reliable bicycles that serve as an effective tool to improve their motivation and efficiency as well as improve access of vaccines to vulnerable patients.

“Being part of BayWa r.e. puts all of us in a unique position to work for the betterment of our planet and during this journey we encounter additional opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Our company’s sustainability efforts contribute to the wider United Nations SDGs, and the projects we support align with this endeavor,” said Axel Veeser, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. USA LLC. “We want to thank Hans Rey for giving us the opportunity to support his organization, Wheels 4 Life, in advancing mobility for hard working frontline workers in northern Uganda.” 

Mountain Bike Pioneer and World Champion Hans Rey founded Wheels 4 Life because he understands firsthand how bicycles can change lives. After a successful racing career, he looked for a new way to use the joy and freedom that biking brings to change people’s lives. The nonprofit provides bicycles to people in great need of transportation throughout the developing world. For their beneficiaries, the closest school, doctor, or workplace might be as far as 10 to 20 miles away. Since February 2005, the organization has delivered over 16,000 bikes worldwide to worthy recipients in Central and South America, Asia, and Africa.

“Thank you BayWa r.e. for your support in helping us make a difference. Give a Bike – Change a Life is our motto – we encourage people to support our cause, we have wonderful new gift certificates available on our website,” said Hans Rey on behalf of Wheels 4 Life.