ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (October 22, 2019) — The popular, annual fundraiser is underway to help 130 children receive their Christmas wish — a bicycle. According to organizer Sandy Seeley, many local children put a bicycle on their Christmas wish-list, but, sadly, many do not receive one because their families cannot afford it.
However, Bike N Hike, Queens Parlour, and the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education have once again teamed up to help make Christmas for more than 100 children merrier. The goal this year is $8,000 for 130 bikes. Helmets are being donated by the Pilot Club of the Quad Cities.
The three organizing groups will once again play Santa Claus and hand out the bikes on Monday, December 16 at the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island from 12:30-5PM.
Seeley says bikes are needed to build self-esteem, trust, and balance.
At the bike give-away, the children will also be able to pick out a new book. Children receiving the bikes and books have been chosen based on recommendations from the Rock Island Head Start program, The Project, Youth Hope, Children's Therapy Center, and Early Learning Quad Cities. Last year, more than 100 children received bikes with training-wheels and helmets because of contributions to the “Bikes for Brains” campaign.
Seeley says most families can afford the blocks, but not the bikes. And this is where the “Bikes for Brains” annual fund-drive comes in and helps so many families have a brighter holiday. Donations mailed or drop off at Queens Parlour, 171-19th Avenue, Moline, Illinois.