Charity seeking deserving children for free bike

Variety – The Children’s Charity is currently calling for nominations of deserving children to be recipients of bikes on its 2010 Bikes for Kids tour, in which it will distribute 450 bikes in the North and South Islands.

“This year we are visiting Waitakere as part of our tour and encourage teachers, parents, caregivers, friends and grandparents to nominate a child aged between seven and nine to receive a brand new bike and helmet from Variety,” said Lorraine Taylor, CEO of Variety – The Children’s Charity, which has distributed over $11.7 million to sick, disabled and disadvantaged children since its inception in 1989.

“We are looking for children who are seen by their peers as a role model or have made a difference within their school or community environments demonstrating an outstanding ability to assist those around them.

“Alternatively, it may be that their family is simply not in a position to purchase a bike or the child has overcome adverse conditions – we really encourage people to go to www.variety.org.nz to download an application form or to call (09) 520 4111 to find out more information

“Riding a bike is an important part of a Kiwi childhood and we believe every child should have the right to do this – gifting a bike to a child also has a powerful impact on their peers and encourages them to follow in their footsteps,” she concluded.

“Bikes for Kids”, now in its eleventh year, forms a special part of Variety’s mobility programme, providing life enriching assistance to children with physical restrictions and is an example of Variety ‘filling the gaps’ that other organisations can’t or won’t fill.

Nominations must be received by Variety by August 31 and all applicants will be notified of the decision by 30 September.

Supported by The Warehouse, Avanti, McDonald’s and the TR Group, the tour from 7-13 November involves Variety volunteers travelling throughout the country presenting bikes, along with local celebrities, to children in Waitakere City, North Shore City, Helensville, Orewa, Warkworth, Dargaville, East Kaipara, Whangarei, the Far North, Central Otago and Southland.

For further information, images, or to arrange an interview please contact:
Clare Ponton, Communications Manager, Variety – The Children’s Charity.
Tel: 07 377 0721 or mobile 021 228 3721.
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  http://www.variety.org.nz