Close to 100 local kids are smiling a little bigger today, and probably dreaming about the summer months when they can take their new bikes out for a spin.

Ninety-eight kids from the Cochrane area got to pick up their new wheels yesterday, thanks to a holiday partnership with the local Kiwanis Club and the Cochrane Activettes.

Cochrane Kiwanis Club President Ron Gosselin they were more than happy to help provide the ultimate 'Share Your Christmas' experience for local kids in need.

The families that registered with the Activettes and the food bank to get a hamper had the option to ask for a bike," explains Gosselin. "Those families register the fact that it's a boy of six years old or female, [who is] 10 or 15 years old and the Activettes gave us that information."

Back in September, the Kiwanis Club collected used bike donations from the community and had them tuned up and brought to safety standards. 

Gosselin says after receiving the wishlist from the Activettes, they worked with their bike recycler to make the magic happen.

"We go and pick up the bikes and we bring them to the site of distribution," explains Gosselin. " And then yesterday, we distributed the 98 bikes that were in the order."

All 98 kids also got some safety gear to go along with their new set of wheels.

While this is the first year that the two local organizations have partnered for the holiday bike initiative, the Kiwanis Club has had the bike recycling program in place since 2019. Gosselin says this was a natural progression.

"We've been dealing with 'Wheels For Kids'  ourselves on a regular basis," explains Gosselin. "So, I mean it was a natural fit for us, that's what we're all about, trying to put smiles on kids' faces."

It's fair to assume this will be a Christmas experience that those 98 kids won't soon forget.

The Kiwanis Club has plans of doing it all over again next year and they'll be launching a bike drive again this spring.