A student’s initiative is putting bicycles into the hands of her deserving classmates at Bedford Road Collegiate. 

Caitlyn Kirkpatrick, a Grade 12 International Baccalaureate student, partnered with Care & Share to create the unique program. Students who wish to receive a bicycle submitted an application noting why they needed it and how they would pay it forward by creating positive change in their community.

"At Bedford, we're a very close community and we often try and promote good in our school and to promote healthy, active lifestyles" said Kirkpatrick, who is hopeful the program will grow.

Seven students were chosen to receive bicycles during the initial distribution, including two sisters who enrolled at Bedford Road after arriving from Syria earlier this year.

Sisters Christine and Joelle Romeah say they welcome the independence that a bike will provide and how the bikes will benefit their entire family.

“I want a bike because I would like to ride it," Christine said in her application. “In Syria, you can’t take your bike to school, and in general females don’t ride bikes, just men.”

The bikes will provide transportation to and from school for the sisters and allow them to explore the city. As the family does not have a car, it will also serve a practical use for situations such as transporting groceries home from the store for their parents.

While the bikes were provided through Care & Share, the local Help One program stepped up to donate funds to supply helmets and bike locks for each of the students.