Bikes & Music Announces Summer “Fun-Raiser!” Group Ride and Cookout to Follow Online Fundraising Drive

Bikes & Music, a Chicagoland 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, has a goal to raise $25,000 by September 24, 2022. The funds are needed for the repair of donated bicycles, and for the purchase of new bike helmets and locks. The bikes and equipment will be provided to children and adults in need.

Since the start of 2022, Bikes & Music has collected over 110 bicycles and over 100 instruments throughout Chicagoland. “We received a terrific response to our spring bike drive,” says Bikes & Music co-founder Ryan Gable. “We have supported organizations that are doing amazing work, like Home of the Sparrow and Refugee One. We’ve supplied refurbished bikes along with helmets and locks to children and some adults that need bikes for fun but also as a mode of transportation to work and school!”

The challenge now and the mission of the fundraiser is to cover the tune-ups and repairs for these bikes and instruments. For example, when you add in the cost of helmets and locks, it takes about $100 to get each bike ready to go and into the hands of someone that desperately wants one.

Gable explains that repairing used bicycles and instruments keeps them out of landfills. “We could almost buy new bikes for what repairs and parts cost sometimes. But we are dedicated to doing the right thing for the planet by recycling bikes that just need a little love. In terms of our bikes, we’re fortunate to have support from two local bike shops (Crank Revolution in Hoffman Estates and Never Ending Cycles in Streamwood) for the safety checks, maintenance and repairs. They do everything they can to keep our costs to a minimum.”

Now through September 24th, donations for Bikes & Music’s “Summer Fun-raiser” will be accepted online at https://gofundme.com/bikesandmusic. Donations are eligible for tax deduction.

All who donate are welcome to join in for a group bicycle ride at your own pace on September 24th at the Paul Douglas Preserve in Hoffman Estates from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is an 8.6 mile paved trail suitable for riders at all levels, and a new 7.5 mile single-track mountain bike trail built by the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (https://www.cambr.org/). After the group bicycle ride, Crank Revolution will host a cookout for participants from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. We will have food, refreshments, games and music, located across the street from the Paul Douglas Preserve at 1636 W Algonquin Road.

All donations are welcome and appreciated. Attending the ride is not required. To make a donation to Bikes & Music, or to learn more about the organization and its mission, visit bikesandmusic.org.