An unridden cruiser bicycle awaits its newest owner while doing good deeds for a second time.
Originally donated by Oak Bay Bikes to Fernwood Inn the two-wheeler was actioned to aid an employee and his family who hit a rough time. Oak Bay resident Gerald Smeltzer explained how his daughter purchased the bike there, then donated the cruiser and another bike to a Syrian refugee family project. This sparked four other bike donations which meant six bikes donated for three people.
The cruiser found its way, through Smeltzer, to Joe Blake of the Community Association of Oak Bay.
“He knew that we were raising funds for the Sno’uyutth scholarship. He wanted to pass it forward,” said Blake, whose role as a fundraiser with CAOB continued on after the welcome pole was funded and raised at Oak Bay High in 2015, with the scholarship established the next year.
Sno’uyutth means ‘spreading good energy,’ Blake says, noting the cruiser continues to do just that.
“The funds that we’ll get for selling the bike … would be going toward the Sno’uyutth Legacy Scholarship for an indigenous grad at Oak Bay High school for post secondary education. We have two already out in the world,” Blake said. “We’re hoping to have a third Sno’uyutth Legacy Scholarship offered in June. It’s something we want to keep doing and we want to keep raising funds to do it.”
To make an offer on the bike, email joeblake@shaw.ca. He’ll take bids beyond $400 until March 21.
“I hope there will be somebody that will realize the value, it’s worth double that,” Blake says
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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