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| Date: | Saturday, September 12, 2009 |
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| Time: | 8:00am - 2:00pm |
| Location: | Mission Creek Park, 301 Channel Street, San Francisco, CA 94158 |
| Press Coverage: | SF Examiner article 9.04.09 Momentum 9.24.09 |
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San Francisco, CA, September 21, 2009 – Bikes for Kids, a program of Variety Children's Charity Kids on the Go! Mobility Program partnered with Rotary Club of San Francisco to present Bike Build 2009 on Saturday 12, 2009. More than 100 volunteers, recipients, members and donors gathered at Mission Creek Park in San Francisco for a one day bike give-a-way to build 50 bikes for distribution to underprivileged children challenged by poverty living in San Francisco.
September's cool temperatures and rain didn't stop 70 volunteers from building 50 bikes for low income, at-risk and challenged children living in San Francisco. Divided into seven teams, volunteers from Variety Children's Charity of Northern California, the Rotary Club oF San Francisco, SR Martin College Preparatory School, Kinders BBQ, San Francisco Police Department's Bicycle Patrol and American Cyclery built and distributed 50 bikes to children in need. "This was the best volunteer event I've ever experienced," said Dave from Google.
After the bikes were built the kids arrived in groups to be fitted for their bikes. The kids received a helmet and lock as well. For many this was their first bike and first riding experiencing. "Look at the kids faces light up," commented one of the San Francisco Police Bicycle Patrol Officers. "I am Monica's mom and this is Monica's first bike and it's awesome watching her determination to learn to ride her first bike," — Monica's Mom. "It feels good to ride a bike except when I fall it hurts. When the wind hits my face I feel like I am flying!" — Monica, 10 yrs old.
The day was enhanced by the San Francisco Urban Riders who set up an obstacle and safety course. SF Urban Riders goal is to create places in our larger parks that offer fun, off road bicycle recreation for youth of all ages and abilities. "It was amazing to see the big smiles on the kids faces. Although they all start with a different skill set, the determination to master the challenges is alive in all of them. The beauty of challenging them with a bike is that once they build up their confidence and strength, many will go on to become bike commuters and that will benefit their lives forever," says Dan Schneider, SF Urban Riders.
The children who received bikes participate in programs at the Salvation Army Harbor House, Booker T. Washington Community Services and the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco. 8 year old Zaire received a bike and he had one word for the day," Amazing!"
We rarely think about bikes and kids as exercise that promotes healthy lifestyles. Riding is an amazing source of exercise for kids especially children who are challenged by poverty. For children who might skip breakfast and snack on chips and soda, cycling helps battle against childhood diabetes and obesity. Riding a bike is an outlet for adolescent exuberance and aids in healthy minds, says Ellen Goodman Executive Director of Variety Children's Charity in Northern California.
Variety's Bikes for Kids is a part of Variety's Kids on the Go! Mobility Program which is dedicated to getting mobility and adaptive equipment into the hands of kids. Lynette's grandchildren received bikes and shared, "I really did not feel we thanked you enough for the wonderful brand-new bikes we received on Saturday. And to also get helmets and locks for them is totally awesome! The economic situation has left us so I would not have been able to replace the ‘hand-me-down' and now broken bicycle that was Tyler's and the too small tricycle that Kristina used to have. Being 6 and 4, my husband and I did not want to keep waiting for these kids to learn how to ride bicycles. So they were a real blessing!"
