by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Moses, who is known in the area as the Bicycle Man, refurbishes donated second-hand bikes through the year before organizing a pre-Christmas giveaway of those bicycles to children referred by school social workers in Fayetteville.
The school social workers determine whether families cannot afford to buy a bicycle and then refer them to Moses and his ever growing number of volunteers as suitable receivers of a bike. The volunteers are the ones that help Moses in his workshop to refurbish the bikes but also administer the bike giveaway program.
The bicycle giveaway program was started by Moses in 1991 and the event has grown so large over the years that it is now part of the town's folklore by now. It has grown so much so over those 20 years that local police, in fact, have been so concerned at the numbers the event attracts that they have had to insist on Moses taking the event to ever larger premises several times during those years.
This year’s giveaway, which was held on December 22, saw 1,104 children receive bikes. Along with a bicycle, each also child gets a cycle helmet. Other donated items are also handed out at the event to the children and this includes toys, books, clothes, shoes and a stocking full of personal hygiene necessities.
Work has already started on next year’s event, and The Bicycle Man is keen as ever to receive any donated bikes. We have to commend Moses on his humanitarian approach and of course introducing the bike to many a child.
If Moses would be in the UK he would be one of the greatest candidates for a Royal Honor such as an Empire Medal or even an OBE. Maybe and the State government or at least the city of Fayetteville could create some sort of honor and medal for the man. He sure deserves it.
There are still people who think that they cannot do much but actions such as this one, once again, are proof that one man can make a difference and affect many lives annually.
© 2011
