Bikes for Kids Utah moves fundraising events to new date

Bikes for Kids Utah moved up its annual bike giveaway and fundraising ride to May 31 to give recipients more time to ride their new bikes during the summer months following the giveaway. The group also hopes to guarantee warmer weather for its 5km, 50km and 100km fundraising rides.

"We have had two extremely successful events and each year we learn something new about making the next event better than the last." said Debbie Reid, founder and director of Bikes for Kids Utah. "It didn't seem right to give a child a brand new bike in the fall when he or she may only have a few weeks left to enjoy it. The new dates give these kids at least three to four warm months to really get a feel for and enjoy their bikes."

With the new date, Salt Lake City native and Tour de France yellow jersey wearer Dave Zabriskie will not be able to attend this year's event due to conflicts with his race schedule.

This event marks the third year Bikes for Kids Utah will give 1,000 new bicycles to pre-qualified, underprivileged first-grade students from Salt Lake Valley elementary schools. Helmets, t-shirts and locks come along with the bikes.

For more information, visit www.bikesforkidsutah.org or call 801-523-3730.