Variety rewards deserving Kiwis

Variety – The Children’s Charity’s will gift 450 new bikes to deserving children from Auckland to Invercargill during its annual “Bikes for Kids” tour commencing this month.

Sponsored by Trillian Trust and Kellogg’s, the 2008 Variety “Bikes for Kids” tour involves Variety Volunteers, along with local celebrities, travelling throughout the country presenting bikes to children in Auckland, Thames, Waihi, Mt Maunganui, Whakatane, Opotiki, Rotorua, Taupo, Taumarunui, New Plymouth, Ngaruawahia and Invercargill.

CEO for Variety, Lorraine Taylor, says that the aim of the “Bikes for Kids” programme is to recognise and reward children who are role models at their schools and in their communities.

“Our goal is to reward deserving children from low decile schools with, what is in many cases, their first-ever bike. This recognition not only benefits the child concerned, but provides an incentive for their peers to follow in their footsteps and become good school and community citizens”, says Ms Taylor.

“Bikes for Kids”, now in its sixth year, forms a special part of Variety’s mobility programme, providing life enriching assistance to children with physical restrictions.

Each year Variety provides hundreds of children with much needed equipment that aids mobility, including specialised trikes and bikes.

Variety distributes grants to individuals and organisations that work with disadvantaged children up to 18 years of age. Variety’s vision is to help NZ children who are sick, disabled and disadvantaged to reach their full potential.