Smiles and Miles 2024

Shameem Dukandar
Team

Newham

Team captain: Shameem Dukandar

About

Funds raised by Smiles & Miles will help keep our rides free of charge and enable more Muslim women to discover the freedom and joy of cycling!

Women, particularly from ethnic minority and Muslim backgrounds, are less likely to cycle than men. Many women don't own a bike and worry that cycling is dangerous, they won't be able to do it or what others will think.

“Cycle Sisters being ladies-only and accommodating of Muslim women is a God-send! I have hardly ridden a bike since I was a child and getting older, I have never felt comfortable with my hijab (headscarf). The provision of bikes and helmets for free is just brilliant!” Faaria

Cycle Sisters is an award-winning charity which has transformed the lives of hundreds of Muslim women. Through our local groups covering 10 London boroughs, we create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive space for Muslim women to discover cycling.

We have a life changing impact:

92% reported their physical and mental health had improved
85% felt more connected to their local community
52% reduced car use
90% reported feeling more confident
46% said their family now cycles more

We've committed to our rides being free of charge to make our rides accessible to all Muslim women. But running our groups costs money and as a registered charity we rely on donations and grants.

How your support makes a difference:

- Every year we run 500+ rides, across 10 different boroughs, completely free of charge
- Our Teen Bikers project encourages girls aged 13-17 to discover cycling
- We have empowered nearly 90 women as volunteer Ride Leaders
- We have supported 13 women to train as Bikeability instructors to teach complete beginners how to ride a bike
- We are challenging stereotypes about Muslim women and making cycling more representative of diverse communities in the UK.

Join us in making a difference. Together, we can create a more inclusive and diverse cycling community.
92%

Funded

  • Target
    £1,000
  • Raised so far
    £920
  • Number of donors
    32

About

Funds raised by Smiles & Miles will help keep our rides free of charge and enable more Muslim women to discover the freedom and joy of cycling!

Women, particularly from ethnic minority and Muslim backgrounds, are less likely to cycle than men. Many women don't own a bike and worry that cycling is dangerous, they won't be able to do it or what others will think.

“Cycle Sisters being ladies-only and accommodating of Muslim women is a God-send! I have hardly ridden a bike since I was a child and getting older, I have never felt comfortable with my hijab (headscarf). The provision of bikes and helmets for free is just brilliant!” Faaria

Cycle Sisters is an award-winning charity which has transformed the lives of hundreds of Muslim women. Through our local groups covering 10 London boroughs, we create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive space for Muslim women to discover cycling.

We have a life changing impact:

92% reported their physical and mental health had improved
85% felt more connected to their local community
52% reduced car use
90% reported feeling more confident
46% said their family now cycles more

We've committed to our rides being free of charge to make our rides accessible to all Muslim women. But running our groups costs money and as a registered charity we rely on donations and grants.

How your support makes a difference:

- Every year we run 500+ rides, across 10 different boroughs, completely free of charge
- Our Teen Bikers project encourages girls aged 13-17 to discover cycling
- We have empowered nearly 90 women as volunteer Ride Leaders
- We have supported 13 women to train as Bikeability instructors to teach complete beginners how to ride a bike
- We are challenging stereotypes about Muslim women and making cycling more representative of diverse communities in the UK.

Join us in making a difference. Together, we can create a more inclusive and diverse cycling community.

Shameem Dukandar is fundraising towards