ONE child’s trash will be another’s treasure this Christmas, thanks to the Vintage Motorcycle Club of Western Australia.
Members of the Forrestfield based club spent the past two months fixing up discarded and unwanted bikes then donated more than 30 of them to the Salvation Army in Northbridge this week.
Adrian White said he got the idea when he spotted bikes on verges while walking his dog.
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READ NOW“It started with the verge collection at my place – walking the dog last Christmas, there was kids’ bikes on the verge,” he said.
“And kids don’t wear bikes out, they outgrow them, then they throw them in a heap, the chain goes rusted, tyres go flat and redback spiders get in under the seat.
“I thought I would take a couple of them home and refurbish them.”
Mr White said he got help and additional used bikes and spare parts from Bicycles for Humanity WA.
He said the organisation sent up to 100 bikes at a time to Africa, but did not refurbish kids’ bikes.
“They were happy to help me with kids’ bikes,” he said.
Salvation Army Major Paul Hateley said bikes were expensive and many parents could not afford them for their children.
“We get bikes donated sometimes, but one thing we find is that for many parents a bike is a substantial outlay financially and many of them cannot afford them,” he said.
“Bike riding provides a sense of freedom for a young person, fitness, and being able to get out with their mates.”
Major Hateley said the bikes would be among other items available at its distribution day ahead of Christmas.
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