Dreams will come true tomorrow

In less than 24 hours, magic will be in the air at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. More than 200 volunteers will watch and cheer as 230 local kids’ dreams come true, right before their eyes. Each child will receive a brand new bike of his or her very own at our annual Bikes for Kids event. The bikes will range from tricycles for the smallest recipients, to larger two-wheelers, to therapeutic bikes for kids who, due to varying disabilities, are unable to ride a traditional bicycle.

We all remember learning to ride our first bike, right? Teetering down the sidewalk while your mom, dad or older sibling held on to the back of your seat…and the thrill of pedaling those first few feet on your own? Every child – and parent, actually – dreams of those moments. Variety knows that every child, regardless of ability or situation, deserves that experience.

Children will come from six Variety Partner Agencies to receive 200 traditional bikes. Agencies represented will be Northside Community Center, United Services, Central Institute for the Deaf, Hyde Park Outreach, Crider Health Center and William Bedell ARC.

Simultaneously, 30 Variety kids with more involved physical disabilities will try out their custom-made therapeutic bikes that will allow them to get out of their houses – and for many, out of their wheelchairs – and go for a bike ride with family members and friends. These special bikes cost $1,500 to $3,000 and are made by Creative Mobility.

Bikes for Kids is made possible by generous sponsors, including the David Lichtenstein Foundation, World Wide Technology, Bunzl, Interco Charitable Foundation, St. Louis Rams, SITE Improvement Association, Young Variety and Helmets First.

Want to help us buy more bikes? Click here to donate to the Bikes for Kids program.