Hi, my name is Yanaj,

I am currently attending Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy, and I am in the 7th grade. I am involved with volleyball, dance, and I am also a Triangle Bikeworks (TBW) Youth Cyclist.

This year, I will be going on a bike tour along the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor with my teammates at Triangle Bikeworks which stretches from Wilmington, NC to Saint Agustine, FL. We’ll start from our home base in Carrboro and bike to Wilmington, and then we will go down the corridor. The trip in total will cover over 770 miles. This is my first year as a cyclist with Triangle Bikeworks and the first time I’ve biked over 15 miles!

I have the opportunity to experience this journey at no cost; however, I have been tasked with raising $300 or more to help out. As a nonprofit organization, Triangle Bikeworks needs my help to continue to provide these amazing opportunities to kids like me.

That’s why I am reaching out to all of you as my support system. All of you have played some role in shaping me into who I am, and with your continued support, I know I can achieve even greater heights. I am grateful for any and all donations. I am just trying to do my part for the organization I love.  I would LOVE IT if you would follow along with me on our route on social media. Here are the links where you can see our progress: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Thank you in advance! 

~ Yanaj   

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a National Heritage Area and it was established by the U.S. Congress to recognize the unique culture of the Gullah Geechee people who have traditionally resided in the coastal areas and the sea islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of Africans who were enslaved on the rice, indigo, and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast.  Many came from the rice-growing region of West Africa.  The nature of their enslavement on isolated islands and coastal plantations created a unique culture with deep African origins that are clearly visible in the Gullah Geechee people’s distinctive arts, crafts, foodways, music, and language.