A bicycle donation to this Brighton nonprofit can change a life

BRIGHTON TWP. — When 11-year-old Elliott Bauknecht received a blue Schwinn Ranger from Charity Bicycles, it was a game changer.

Bauknecht, a sixth grader at Holly Middle School, is a cancer survivor. He's already battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ulcerative colitis, anemia and side effects from treatment. He missed two years of school and was often in the hospital.

Elliott's mother, Candice, said her son hadn't been able to ride a bike for years.

"It brought him to tears that he could ride and be a normal kid," Candice said. "It really meant a lot to him to do a normal, basic childhood function."

She said chemotherapy "hit (Elliott's) legs hard" and he gained weight from steroids.

"I had spoken with his doctors about how to make his legs better," she said. "They suggested bike riding."

Now in remission, Elliott has been "riding ever since."

"He mostly goes up and down the street," Candice said. "I also take him to the park, where there's a bike trail. Me and my other two kids walk beside him when he rides."

Over the past several years, Charity Bicycles has expanded into a full-fledged nonprofit, providing refurbished, donated bicycles to people in need in southeast Michigan.

Dave and Judy Wolfe founded the organization in 2020.

"Being able to provide for more needy people (is the goal)," Dave said. "We're expanding the number of places where we distribute bikes."

From their repair shop and training center at 9903 Weber St. in Brighton Township, the organization accepts donated bicycles, repairs them and donates them. They also repair and sell bicycles to raise revenue.

They donate helmets, reflective vests and lights to everyone who receives a bicycle. Elliott got those, too.

In January, Charity Bicycles completed a renovation of its new Kellogg Repair and Training Center and formalized a training program for mechanics and volunteers.

Grants from the Kellogg Family Foundation, partnerships with other service organizations and increased community support have helped Charity Bicycles grow.

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Dave said they hope someday to support programs in Africa, including a training program in Malawi. The nonprofit is also involved in a plan to ship bicycles to the Philippines.

— Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: A bicycle donation to this Brighton nonprofit can change a life