4 friends · 1 charity · 280 km across the Alps

Pedal
for Purpose

We're riding from Zürich to Lugano to put refurbished Swiss bikes on African roads — because every kilometre we pedal, and every franc you give, changes a life.

340 km
Across Switzerland
7
Alpine stops
2,165 m
Highest pass
Scroll to begin
Velafrica bikes in Africa
🌍 Since 1993
300k+
bikes shipped from Switzerland to Africa
The cause comes first

Bikes that change lives.

We're not riding for a medal. We're riding for Velafrica — a Swiss charity that turns unused bikes into freedom, school runs and livelihoods across Africa.

Velafrica collects discarded bicycles all over Switzerland, refurbishes them in social integration workshops, and ships them to partner organisations in Africa. There, a single bicycle means a child can reach school, a nurse can reach patients — four times faster than walking.

1

Collect

Unwanted Swiss bikes are gathered nationwide.

2

Refurbish

Repaired in workshops that create local jobs.

3

Mobilise

Shipped to Africa, where mobility is everything.

45,000
Bikes collected / year
25,000+
Shipped to Africa / year
700k
Lives improved
7
Partner countries
Every franc becomes a wheel turning. 100% of what you give goes straight to getting a refurbished Swiss bike onto African roads. (Transaction Fees Included)
Support the cause → About Velafrica
Grade 10 Students

Meet
the team.

Four Grade 10 students united to ride the length of Switzerland for a cause we believe in.

Grade 10 · Switzerland Six nations on four bikes.
The route · scenic and spectacular

Zürich → Lugano,
the scenic way.

Eight stops, one alpine spine. From grey northern skies to the palm-lined south — here's every leg of the ride.

Follow us live

Where are we
right now?

Track our position across the Alps — what we've conquered, what's climbing ahead, the elevation, and the landmarks around us.

Conquered
We are here
Still to climb
Elevation profile 0 → 280 km · peak 2,165 m
Live position
Elevation
Distance in
To go
📊 Journey progress
0 km covered280 km remaining
📍 Around us now
🚩 Jump to a stop
Every franc = a wheel turning Donate