The Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund

The Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund (BMEF) is a registered charity 501c3 established to provide assistance to bicycle messengers injured on the job that will require a significant period of convalescence before returning to work.

This assistance helps fill the gaps left by most workman's compensation plans, which generally provide only a portion of average earnings (65%-90% depending on locale) during time off of work due to injury. The BMEF provides the same assistance to qualified messengers regardless of access to workmen's compensation, EI or private insurance protections afforded most gainfully employed persons. In an industry where many workers are considered to be underpaid a further pay reduction due to inadequate protections can be a considerable barrier to safe recovery and return to work practices. Paradoxically to the manner in which workman's compensation and other remedies are paid many workers find that day to day expenses are equal to or, if medication or medical equipment is the burden of the worker, higher during convalescence than the daily expenses of the healthy productive worker. BMEF assistance for these workers can make a difference by making a proper recovery a better possibility, thereby also possibly preventing recurring injury.

The one-time assistance provided by the BMEF is specifically intended for the purchase of healthy food and prescription medications during the convalescence period and as such does not reduce or detract from workman's compensation or other remedies due the worker.

To qualify for assistance from the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund you must meet the following criteria:

- Injured while on the job as a bicycle messenger.

- Expected to require 2 weeks or more off of the road convalescing according to your health professional or doctor recommendation as a result of your on the job injury.

- Agree to the Privacy Policy and communications by the BMEF to process your request. (All information regarding all requests are strictly confidential except in relation to processing and verifying your request and will never be released to anyone for any reason without your specific consent)

- Agree to use funds received from the BMEF to their stated purpose, for the purchase of healthy food and prescription medication to assist your recovery.

- Complete and submit the Request Assistance form to the BMEF.

Once you have submitted your assistance request a BMEF volunteer administrator will contact you. Please remember that all staff of the BMEF are 100% volunteer and treat them kindly.

Thank you for your support from everyone at the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund.

Ride Safe.