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Community

Bikes for Brains 2017

Tori Charnetzki
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WVIK News
3 year old Julien Guerra from Rock Island sits on his new bike.
Credit WVIK News
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WVIK News
A volunteer helps 3 year old Julien Guerra from Rock Island adjust his new bike for a better fit.

More than 100 children now have their first bicycle. On Monday Bikes for Brains held its 16th annual giveaway, to insure needy children will have a good Christmas.

Co-Chair Sandy Seeley says this has become an important part of her own holiday celebration each year.

"When you see these kids and they've got that big smile on their face because they realize that that bike is theirs, it is so cool. It just gives a nice warmth to you knowing that you are involved in something that works."

Credit WVIK News
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WVIK News
5 year old Law Eh Say from Rock Island picks out a new helmet.

Bikes for Brains is a joint effort each year of Seeley and the Queen's Parlour Salon in Moline, Bike N Hike in Rock Island, and the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education.

Seeley says local residents contributed 9,500 dollars this year.

"When people send their checks, many send notes. And always they say this is the most awesome thing in the Quad Cities - thank you, thank you, thank you."

Children receiving the new bikes each year are chosen by the Rock Island Head Start program, The Project, Youth Hope, Children's Therapy Center, and Early Learning Quad Cities. Their new helmets are a gift from the Pilot Club of the Quad Cities. 

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.