A volunteer for an Irish charity which gives refurbished and donated bicycles to new arrivals from Ukraine has won a US State Department award for his work.
Jerry Case, who is originally from Maryland in the US, was given the award at a ceremony in Washington DC in recent days.
Mr Case is one of a number of people who have volunteered with the Good Bike Project, which was established by Paul McQuaid of River Cycles in Dublin City Centre and whose family is well-known in the cycling community in Ireland.
Since early 2022, the charity has given 2,621 refurbished and donated bicycles to Ukrainians who have fled the war in their homeland.
Speaking at a ceremony for a number of award winners for outstanding volunteerism abroad, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken heralded Mr Case’s decision to help new arrivals to Ireland feel welcome here.
Speaking at the same ceremony, Mr Case joked that when he first received the e-mail telling him he had won the award “my finger was going to the delete button” until he realised it was a genuine message.
Referencing the film The Bucket List, he said having joy in your life and bringing joy to others is essential to a well-lived life.
Paul McQuaid told RTÉ News today that he is proud of what he and volunteers like Mr Case are achieving, describing his colleague as showing “the best of American” values.
He said anyone who wishes to provide old or donated bicycles, which could be refurbished to help new arrivals settle in Ireland can log on to www.thegoodbikeproject.com.
