Bikes donated by Merseyside Police have been recycled by Savio Salesian College students ready for a charity ride through Africa.

The bikes have been fixed up and made race ready by students at Savio Salesian College in Bootle to be used to raise awareness and funds for the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Medaille Trust projects

On August 4, riders from the UK and Kenya will form Team Tanken 2016 to ride more than 200 miles, from Tanzania to Kenya. The team consists of six riders, including Savio Salesian College teacher James Denis, the CAFOD representative in Merseyside, Stephen Burrowes and Joseph Kamau, Director of Caritas Kitui in Kenya.

Schools Officer at Merseyside Police, Constable Rebecca Snape, donated four unclaimed abandoned bikes. She said:

“As a Schools Officer I work closely with the staff and pupils at Savio Salesian College. So when they asked if we had any bikes they could do maintenance on as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, I checked with our property department who had four found bikes that were ideal.

“The pupils have done a brilliant job, and their maintenance work will really be put to the test when a teacher from the school is joined by three others to cycle them across Tanzania and Kenya.

“It is wonderful to think that bikes found abandoned here in Merseyside have been put to such good use, to help young people develop skills, raise money for charity and that ultimately they will be given to health workers in Nairobi.”

Steve Burrowes, CAFOD Representative in Merseyside, said:

“Thanks to the Merseyside Police and the students of Savio Salesian College for their kindness and generosity, for going the extra mile to help benefit our worthy causes.”