IRONMAN Foundation Donates Bicycles To Children From Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club

The Ironman Foundation donated thousands of dollars to the Tulsa Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA before the Ironman competition this weekend.

That money will provide free swim lessons to 112 kids at the YMCA and give free bikes to 30 kids. 

“Who knows some of these kids--honestly--it might be the first bike they’ve ever gotten, and we take that for granted sometimes but we’ve learned not to do that," said Richard White.

White is the Executive Director for the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in Tulsa. He said the 30 bikes will go to kids who participated in a poem reading and the bikes couldn't come at a better time. 

“We’re going into the summer time so the kids are going to love them. They’re very nice bikes and at the boys and girls club we want the kids to stay as active as possible. They’ve been cooped up for awhile so the bikes come at a great time," said White.

The Ironman Foundation is donating $20,000 as a way to provide opportunities to kids who might not otherwise have them. 

“Lowering barriers for anyone helps create bonds for people. Ultimately sports is a tremendous avenue for unity and for people to work together," said Shane Facteau with the Ironman Group.

He said they're also hoping to get more people participating in the triathlon event to inspire children. 

“If they don’t see in some ways themselves, that’s a barrier. So there’s two components to it. There is the actual participation in what do we look like as an event and as people and at the same time what are we modeling for the future generation," said Facteau.

The details on the swim lessons are still being worked out but are expected to start in June or July.