Six Canadians will hop on their bikes Friday to begin a fundraising effort for a charity that ships recycled bicycles to Malawi.

They will make a 1,000-kilometer (621.37-mile), eight-day bicycle trip around Lake Ontarioin an effort to raise $15,000 for the Uxbridge, Ontario-based organization Africycle.

David Blondel, a graphic designer, Dave Breukelaar, a mechanical engineer, Michael Vyn, a student and social worker, Carlo Raponi, a youth worker, Jordan Vander Klok, a student and landscaper, and Michael P. VanDerHerberg, a geographic information systems specialist and café owner, will depart from Port Hope, Ontario, Friday and end up in Bloomfield, Ontario.

On day two, they will ride to Kingston, Ontario.

On day three, Sunday, the cyclists plan to ride from Kingston to Selkirk Shores State Park, town of Richland, Oswego County.

They will cross the border via the Wolfe Island ferry from Kingston and will land in Cape Vincent. From there, they plan to take Route 12E to Limerick, then Route 180 through Dexter to Baggs Corner and continue on Route 3 to Selkirk Shores. The total length of this leg of the journey is 109 kilometers, or 68 miles.

The $15,000 fundraising goal proposed by the Ride for Africa trip around Lake Ontario would allow Africycle to send a shipment of bicycles to the Malawi shop, said Ted R. Webb, founder of Africycle and program coordinator for Recycle-a-Bike.

Africycle oversees two bicycle shops: one in Uxbridge and the other in Malawi.

In the short run, the organization hopes to improve access to bicycles in Malawi by shipping them there from the Canadian shop. Malawian locals refurbish the bicycles and sell them to members of the community, said Mr. Webb.

The shop in Ontario provides a volunteer opportunity for local youths, who refurbish and sell bikes in Uxbridge to raise funds for shipments.

In a more indirect effort, said Mr. Webb, Africycle hopes to provide a self-sustaining source of growth for Malawian communities by donating the profits from the bike shop to support local programs.

"The first project will be funding a school for orphans and disabled children," said Mr. VanDerHerberg, coordinator for the Ride for Africycle fundraising effort.

Profits from the bike store "will be used to employ the teachers and provide the necessary supplies and curriculum for the school."

The organization looks forward to setting up more bike shops in Malawi and other East African countries.

This is the second year that the group has held a Ride for Africycle event. Last year's trip was from Peterborough to Bloomfield, both in Ontario. It took the two cyclists, Mr. Blondel and Mr. Vander Klok, about seven hours to complete the 100 miles. They raised almost $1,000 for Africycle.

Mr. VanDerHerberg said he got the idea for this year's 1,000-kilometer trip after returning from a visit to Malawi.

"We saw the bike shop they have set up there and were really impressed by their progress" he said. "Upon returning home, we discussed possible fundraising initiatives for Africycle and decided to bicycle around Lake Ontario, raising awareness and support in cities around the lake."

The fundraising is set up per kilometer, so one cent per kilometer would result in a $10 total donation, said Mr. VanDerHerberg. To donate, visit www.rideforafricycle.com/donate or send checks to Africycle, 141 Reach St., Unit 7, Uxbridge, Ontario L9P 1L3.