World Bicycle Relief Launches 6th Annual Pedal to Empower Global Ride to Empower Women and Girls

Presented by Giant Group, the campaign challenges participants to ride 20 km and help raise $1 million.

CHICAGO, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- World Bicycle Relief, a global nonprofit social enterprise committed to mobilizing people through the Power of Bicycles, proudly announces the return of its Pedal to Empower global fundraising campaign for the sixth consecutive year. This year's campaign is presented by Giant Group, a global leader in cycling committed to advancing access to mobility and opportunity.

Launching to the public on May 5, 2025, Pedal to Empower invites people around the world to ride in solidarity with women and girls in rural regions who face daily challenges accessing education, healthcare, and livelihoods due to a lack of reliable transportation. In honor of World Bicycle Relief's 20th anniversary, the campaign invites participants to ride 20 km to celebrate 20 years of impact.

In many rural areas where World Bicycle Relief works, distance remains one of the biggest barriers to progress. Without affordable, reliable transportation, girls often drop out of school, women are unable to access healthcare, and entire communities remain disconnected. But with a bicycle, everything changes. Our data shows that girls are 19% less likely to drop out of school, healthcare workers can visit 63% more households, and entrepreneurs can see income gains of 53%.

"Mobility poverty continues to be one of the most overlooked barriers to progress for women and girls in rural communities," said Dave Neiswander, CEO of World Bicycle Relief. "When the nearest school or health clinic is miles away and the only option is to walk, the consequences are profound—missed opportunities, unsafe journeys, and dreams deferred. Pedal to Empower is more than a ride—it's a movement to change that reality."

About Pedal to Empower:
Pedal to Empower is the world's largest all-abilities cycling event dedicated to raising funds and awareness for women and girls facing mobility challenges. Individuals, families, and companies are encouraged to register and ride any time in May or June—solo or in groups, on trails or city streets, from a spin studio or a backyard path. Every pedal stroke helps fund World Bicycle Relief's comprehensive programs that provide Buffalo Bicycles, train local mechanics, and support ecosystem services to ensure lasting impact for the communities we work with.

"We are proud to partner with World Bicycle Relief to power this year's Pedal to Empower campaign," said Phoebe Liu, CEO of Giant Group, which also hosts an annual Ride Like King cycling celebration, raising funds for World Bicycle Relief. "We believe in the power of bicycles to transform lives and are honored to stand with WBR and thousands of riders worldwide to help women and girls unlock opportunity and independence."

Thanks to a generous group of supporters, donations made between May 31 and June 3 will be matched, doubling the impact for women and girls worldwide. Corporate partners and individuals are also invited to contribute to the campaign's match fund to inspire even more giving.

In 2024, the campaign brought together over 54,700 riders in 138 countries, who collectively raised $1.3 million to help expand access to mobility for more than 5,200 women and girls. This year, World Bicycle Relief hopes to further rally its global community around the shared belief that mobility is a human right.

Register today and help girls and women move their world forward: www.pedaltoempower.com

About World Bicycle Relief
Founded in 2005, World Bicycle Relief mobilizes people through the Power of Bicycles. As a pioneering non-profit social enterprise, World Bicycle Relief has distributed over 868,000 bicycles to provide greater access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, uplifting communities worldwide. Discover more about our mission, impact, and vision at www.worldbicyclerelief.org. 

SOURCE World Bicycle Relief