Annual Bikes for Brains campaign gets underway.

The annual “Bikes for Brains” organization is soliciting donations to ensure 125 children will get their Christmas wish--a bicycle According to organizer, Sandy Seeley, every year area children put a bicycle on their Christmas list, but sadly many do not receive one because their families cannot afford it.  For the 16th year in a row three local agencies are teaming up to help ensure the children will get a bike under their tree-- Bike N Hike, Queens Parlour and the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education--but they need the community's’ help. The goal this year is $9,500 for 125 bikes.  Helmets are donated by the Pilot Club of the Quad Cities.  Checks can be mailed or donations dropped off at  Queen's Parlour in Moline--171 19th Avenue. Last year 125 children received bikes with training wheels and helmets because of contributions to the “Bikes for Brains” campaign and the organizers are hoping for a repeat this year.  The bike giveaway is scheduled for Monday, December 11th at 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island. Natalie Doyle with the Regional Office of Education a child needs only two toys to build his brain: a set of blocks and a bike.  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. Children receiving the bikes 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. ###