Every year, National Honor Society members participate in Bikes for Kids. On Dec. 11, NHS members and sponsor Donna Malkmus, along with many other people in the Metro area, assembled donated bikes and give them to underprivileged

children at the Mark Twain Athletic Facility.

“It is just awesome, they [the children]are just so happy, they’re jumping up and down and riding their bike all over the place,” Malkmus said.

Along with each kid receiving their first bike, they were also fitted for a helmet, received a bike lock and given safety instructions. The children are found through The Variety Children’s Charity, which is for kids whose parents cannot afford bikes.

“It’s really cool to help fit them for their helmet and seat and see all their smiles,” NHS member Carolyn Malkmus

said.

For the second year, Variety the Children’s Charity also built therapeutic bikes for children with disabilities during Bikes for Kids. Each therapeutic bike was customized to a child depending on the child’s disability. Each therapeutic bike costs $1500- $3000. The volunteers also constructed basic bikes for local kids.

“The bikes will help the kids [with disabilities] see past their problems they have,” NHS member Jared Hurr said.

While constructing these bikes does require effort, many NHS members, including junior Austin Doeren, feel the effort is well worth it.

“I can’t wait to see their faces when they see a new bike in front of them for the first time, it would be cool to see,” Doeren said.

Taylor Bartrum