Bikes for Tykes is the answer
So what is Bikes for Tykes? For the last 12 years Rick Bevington has scoured the Pattaya stores, as early as October, in search of bicycles that are on special offer. In this way he can buy more machines with the limited budget available, which are then presented to deserving children.
Although new and with their wrappings still intact, each bicycle is subjected to the Bevington scrutiny, dismantled and meticulously re-assembled to make sure that everything operates correctly – particularly the brakes.
Then, with recommendations from the teachers, students are selected to receive their prize based on the child coming from a poor family, unable to buy a motorcycle or any other form of transport resulting in the child possibly walking many kilometers each day to and from school. The other requirement is that the students in question are rewarded for their efforts in their school work, not necessarily the best but having shown that they are trying very hard to improve.
Part 2 of Bikes for Tykes concerns the families that have purchased cycles for their children over the years which they have grown out of, that are broken or rusty and just lying around, using up valuable space and getting in everyone’s way. But what do you do with them? The answer is simple, give Rick a call; he will collect them, repair them or use the parts to build other machines which are then donated to children in and around Pattaya together with padlocks and helmets. Rick emphasis how important it is for the children to acquire the habit of wearing these safety items.
But what a busy time for Rick – since Christmas as he made dreams come true for 36 students. First stop was the Fountain of Life where Sister Joan and her deputy, Pin Ya greeted Rick warmly as he unloaded 6 bikes from his truck. These were machines that had been lying around serving no useful purpose only to be repaired, cleaned a painted to look like new.
The next stop was school No. 4 to hand out 12 bicycles and then off to Nong Gat Yai school where Rick found 9 children waiting in eager anticipation to receive their gift, as were 9 more students at Nong Gat Noi school.
Rick is always looking for unused, even broken bicycles, which he will collect and ensure they receive the Rick Bevington treatment. If you have such a machine and would like to pass this on to Rick, please ring him on 0860724109 or contact Pattaya Sports Club on 038415484.
