150 kids will ride bikes for the first time next week, thanks to donations from local residents and organizations. On Monday, the King Center in Rock Island will host the annual "Bikes for Brains" give-away, where kids in need receive bikes and helmets at Christmas.
Organizer Sandy Seeley-Copley says the event started about 15 years ago, when her salon, Queen's Parlor in Moline, and Bike n' Hike in Rock Island teamed up to give 25 bikes away. Now, a half-dozen local agencies help collect donations and hand out bikes to kids who have never owned one before.
Seeley-Copley purchases the bikes from Walmart, which puts them together for free. And the Pilot Club of Moline has donated $1,000 to buy 150 helmets.
She says the total cost is about $6,000, and she's worried the group is still short on donations.
Donations can be mailed or delivered to Queen's Parlor Salon in Moline. The "Bikes for Brains" give-away begins at 11 am on Monday, at the King Center.