Bikes awarded to special kids

With 10 children, there is stiff competition for bikes in the Hadfield's Whangarei household.

That reduced slightly this week when 9-year-old Harawira and brother Robbie, 7, were each presented with their own brand new bike thanks to Variety's Bikes for Kids programme.

Dad Rob Hadfield said the boys had been chosen for "shining in class".

"Robbie's been doing really well with his reading," he said.

The Hadfield boys were two of the 31 children who were presented with shiny red bikes yesterday at Totara Grove School, with a total of 127 given out across Northland by the children's charity.

Mr Hadfield said the bikes the family already owned were mainly made up from salvaged parts and that the brand new bikes were "awesome".

Tuesday's recipients came from a number of schools. Some children had come through hard times, some families were simply not in a position to buy a new bike and others were chosen for being role models in their community.

Elijah Palmer, 6, had been having a rough year with his mum, dad and sister being ill.

"He's been awesome," mum Katherine said. "We've just had a bad run of it."

Meanwhile, Iain Whitaker watched proudly as daughter Brianna got her bike for being top of her class.

"She's a smart cookie," he said.

Other notable mentions went to Mary Ingle of Dargaville, who made a significant contribution to this year's Bikes for Kids, when she rode from Wellington to Auckland raising almost $2000.

Variety chief executive Lorraine Taylor said having the opportunity to ride a bike was "a child's prerogative".

"However for many Kiwi kids certain circumstances mean they miss out," she said.

Children who received the bikes were nominated by their schools, families or communities.

The Bikes for Kids Tour is part of the Variety Kids on the Move programme, which provides funding for mobility and other equipment that improves a child's quality of life.