Students and teachers at Te Puke Primary School are delighted to have a shed full of brand-new bikes thanks to a huge fundraising effort by the community.

The school used “Climbing for Charity”, run by the cycle tour company Ride Holidays, to raise $17,500 for 30 bikes and helmets. Ten people also donated $500 each to sponsor 10 bikes.

Organiser Peter Boomen said local participants rode up and down the steep hill of Reid Rd 16 times to cover 5000 vertical metres over three days in October to raise money.

“The goal was $15,000 so we went to Papamoa Peddlers to recruit riders and ended up with about 15 people tracking their runs on Strava,” he said. “Then I went around various companies to sponsor the riders.

“The school now has bikes that range from 16-inch with training wheels right up to what’s almost an adult-sized bike, a 24-inch,” said Alex Mundt from MyRide Te Puke.

“It’s good to help out the local schools and for kids who’ve never had a bike before, it sparks that interest.”

Paying it forward

Principal Andrea Dance said the project has enabled them to “pay it forward” by handing over their older bikes to another school.

“Lots of children can’t bring their bikes to school, so they get the opportunity to develop those skills here and for some it’s their first time learning to ride,” she said. “We grew up riding bikes to school and that was the norm, but our roads aren’t that safe anymore, so this gives them the chance to get that exercise daily. How truly blessed are we to have a community like Te Puke that completely wraps around our children for wellbeing. We’re really lucky.”

The school will next turn its fundraising efforts towards a new bike track.

“This bike shed is utilised day in and day out,” said Dance. “Morning tea and lunchtime, children are riding bikes. They’re developing confidence, managing themselves and they’re taking a few risks on the hills and obstacles. We see it as an important part of school.”