RICHMOND, Va. – Next month you have a great opportunity to help a child in need get a brand new bike under the tree this Christmas.
They can also help families of people with brain injuries understand that they are not alone.
The Heart of Virginia Bike Festival at the Hanover Courthouse takes place on September 21 and is the Richmond Area Bicycling Association’s (RABA) largest fundraiser for Bikes For Kids, the program that distributes over 500 bicycles to children each year.
The Brain Injury Association of Virginia is also among the beneficiaries.
“Both causes are very close to my heart,” said Andrew Mann, former president of RABA. “My brother suffered a traumatic brain injury and I know how isolated and scared loved ones can feel.”
He also emphasized how much joy and freedom a bike can provide a young child. “Suddenly they’re not stuck at home glued to their phone or iPad,” Mann said. “They can visit friends, ride to school or go shopping. It’s such an important developmental step.”
The Heart of Virginia Bike Festival offers four rides: a family-oriented 11-mile ride, a half metric century ride (50 kilometers or 33 miles), a metric century ride (66 miles), and an English century ride (102 miles).
“There’s really enough distance for everyone,” Mann said. “And then you can all go back to the courthouse and enjoy a great lunch.”
The 102-mile ride starts at 7:30 a.m. and the others at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.
If you would like to volunteer or register, click here: https://www.heartofvabikefestival.org/
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