Seaside first graders surprised with new bikes

Seaside’s Highland Elementary School was chosen as the recipient of one grand surprise: 57 brand new bikes. Their entire first grade class was lucky enough to bring them home. “I didn’t know I was getting a bike, so I was surprised,” said one student.

For many deserving students, this was their first bike. Friday, each helmet and saddle was sized just for them. “They first helped me put on my helmet, to make sure it fit right, and then they helped me get on the bike,” said another student.

The school’s principal, Hecate Rosewood, said, for these kids, an experience like this could be once in a lifetime. ” Highland Elementary is a Title One school, which means the majority of our students live in some poverty. Every child receives free lunch and breakfast here, so the opportunity to have a brand new bicycle, without having to spend money to get it, gives them this boost into a world that they would have never have had before,” said Rosewood.

The nonprofit organization, Can’d Aid, helped give the kids that “boost.” The Colorado-based group is traveling the country to give kids the gift of bikes and the opportunity to explore the great outdoors. “Almost every kid I talked to said this was their first bike. It’s just awesome. Everyone remembers their first bike and the freedom that it gave them. You could tell that the kids were just bursting at the seems to get out there and ride,” said Alissa Lile, Can’d Aid’s Program and Outreach Manager.

Local volunteers gathered at Monterey’s Work Horse Bicyles, Thursday night, to assemble each new “ride.” Can’d Aid said each bike was made to take the kids far.