An association of “riders” collects warm clothes for the refugees

The association Riders for Refugees launched for the seventh year in a row a warm clothing drive for refugees. The initiative was created by Danny Burrows, editor of a snowboard magazine after a visit to the “jungle” of Calais. Since then, the project has grown thanks to the support of famous sportsmen in the world of boardsports as well as specialized brands who do not hesitate to fuel the action. Last year, the association managed to recover more than 12,000 clothes.

The 75 collection points distributed throughout France and also in Switzerland allow the association to cover the territory and better bring together the players in the sports. Among the contributors, Riders for Refugees has no less than 15 companies specializing in ski equipment. “This allows us to recover clothes which are almost new, which come from the test park, from after-sales service or which have a small defect and which cannot be sold. Sometimes it happens to us to collect boxes of 200 down jackets”, explains David Malacrida, president of Riders For Refugees.

To redistribute stocks, Riders for Refugees can count on ten associations and volunteers. Certain important structures such as Médecins Sans Frontières do not hesitate to approach the organizers according to the needs they have. Moreover, when it is time to arrange the harvest, refugees, volunteers or even high-level athletes come to lend a hand. As a reminder, the collection lasts until October 31, 2021.