(South Bend, IN) - Bicycling enthusiasts are gearing up for a charity event in South Bend on Sunday.

 

They’re calling it The Big Build. The challenge is to assemble 35 bikes right out of the box for local school kids. The South Bend Bike Garage, a volunteer-based organization, won a grant to buy the bikes for use at Navarre Middle School on South Bend’s west side. The grant kick starts the Riding for Focus Program, which helps teach kids to get off their phones and get on some bikes. It includes a curriculum for middle school PE classes incorporating bike usage, safety, and maintenance.

 

On Sunday a team of mechanics are going to assemble all the bikes for the program.

 

Dustin New is the President of the South Bend Bike Garage. “We have a great network of mechanics that we work with and know from the area,” he said. “We have about ten of them coming.”

 

They’re also counting on the public to help raise some money to cover additional costs for the program. “We got the bikes for the Riding for Focus Program,” he said, “but there are some other expenses to go along with that.” Sunday’s Big Build will feature food trucks, raffles, even a giveaway of bike helmets for kids sponsored by Beacon Resource Centers. Expert cycling instructors will also be on hand teaching bike safety skills.

 

The event is taking place at 1441 N. Michigan St. in South Bend. That’s the old St. Joseph High School building on the corner of SR 933 and Angela Blvd. It runs from 2-6 p.m. Central time.

 

Every Wednesday night the South Bend Bike Garage opens to help people fix their bikes. They run three programs through which you can buy a refurbished bike, donate your time and earn a bike, or learn how to fix your own. Bike donations are also accepted.