First Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids San Diego a Huge Success; Will Grow to Four Cities in 2010

San Diego, CA - Not content with 150 children's smiles in San Diego, Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids will expand in 2010 and conduct its bicycle giveaways in four cities: San Diego, Houston, Indianapolis and Boston. The foundation will team with the Boys and Girls Clubs in each city and plans to distribute 250 bicycles, helmets and locks per location.

"Going into last week's event in San Diego, we decided that we wanted Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids to have a national reach," says Dan Gindling, President of Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids. "Kimberlee rode and raced her bike all over the country, why not grow the event into other cities."

Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids was established to honor Kimberlee Caledonia, a talented and avid cyclist who died of brain cancer in 2008. This past Saturday, 150 underprivileged San Diego 1st and 2nd graders received brand new bmx bikes, helmets, locks and cycling caps from the foundation.

Weeks before the event, the children were given the essay question: "What would you do with a new bicycle?". Their answers were graded with the winning children awarded a certificate good for a free bike, helmet, lock and cycling cap. (Those kids who were deemed deserving a bike received a certificate no matter their essay answer.)

The San Diego event began with a bike build on Friday night, where 30 volunteers built 150 bmx bicycles. Final quality control was performed by Speedplay President Richard Bryne, and Dave Grylls, Olympic bike racer and Pan Am and U.S. National cycling champ. Then on Saturday, the giveaway began with each child receiving their goodies plus a bicycle riding safety lesson.

"It was a wonderful, heart-warming event," says Theresa Davis, Area Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. "To see the kids beaming when they got their bikes was uplifting. We can't wait until next year's event."

Says Gindling, who was also Kimberlee's husband: "We will be getting photos and copies of the children's essays up on the KBK website (www.kimsbikes.org) real soon. Some of the essays are funny, some sad, others poignant."

For those wishing to get involved with Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids, through sponsorship or donation, please e-mail: info@kimsikes.org.