Gilbert Bike Shop Raising Funds to Donate Bikes to Grandchildren Raised by Grandparents
Gary Colby, owner of Colby Cruisers
Colby Cruisers, a Gilbert-based bike wholesaler/retailer, is teaming up with Duet, a Phoenix area nonprofit, to provide bicycles to Valley children being raised by their grandparents.
The inaugural fundraiser, Bikes For Kids, runs through December 15. A portion of every bike sold at Colby Cruisers during this time will go toward the bike donation. Colby Cruisers, through Bikes For Kids, is also accepting online donations that go directly to the cause.
“I feel that a bike is a staple in every child’s life and that everyone always remembers their first bike more so than any other gift or toy,” says Gary Colby, owner of Colby Cruisers. “Over the years we have given bikes to kids and I have seen the joy, emotion and excitement from the child as well as others around them and it’s amazing. I felt that now was a great time to ramp it up and do more so I created Bikes For Kids. I heard about Duet and wanted to partner with them to provide bikes for kids who might not otherwise be able to have them.”
Duet has four main service areas, one of which is providing resources for grandparents raising grandchildren and other kinship caregivers.
“Here at Duet, we truly hope the community can come together and support Colby Cruisers in their efforts to collect bikes for the grandchildren we work with who are being raised by their grandparents,” says Jennifer Franzmeier Fitzwater, Kinship Care Services Coordinator for Duet. “It would really mean a lot to each of these children to receive a bike for the holidays. Many grandfamilies are struggling financially due to their new role as primary caregiver for their grandchildren and this might be their grandchildren’s only chance to receive a bike.”
Donations will be taken until December 15 so that children can receive their bikes in time for the holidays. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from every bike sold at Colby Cruisers during this time will go toward the bike donation. The goal is to raise funds for nearly 100 bikes.
Duet: Partners In Health & Aging is a nonprofit, interfaith organization that promotes health and well-being through vitally needed services to homebound adults, family caregivers, faith communities and grandfamilies.
