A love of biking and a need for something to do has lead to a retired High River man to find unused and unwanted bikes to repair and donate to people in need.

Bruce Beauchamp moved to High River four years ago when he retired and he quickly realized, besides riding his own bike, he needed something to keep himself busy.

"I ended up taking a course at the University of Calgary on bicycle repair." Beauchamp said. "And watched a million you tube videos and I just enjoy it. I find it very peaceful."

While he was collecting, repairing and recycling unused and unwanted bikes he didn't know how to donate them to people in need.

At about that time Caitland Asmundson, community development worker, at the FCSS office had just agreed to take on the bikes that the RCMP collected that were stolen and unclaimed.

An amazing partnership was formed and several bikes now have homes with people who really needed them.

She said last summer they gave several bikes to people who really needed them including a family of new Canadians, who had no form of transportation.

There was another person who hadn't ridden a bike in years.

"When he got on the bike for the first time he took it for a rip down the street and it was just awesome to see that joy that people have when they ride a bike."

People who have received bikes have donated them back to the program when they are done with them.

She added sometimes if you are donating a bike to a charity that ends up reselling it, it might not have the same benefit as having Beauchamp fix it up.

"He makes sure they have a kickstand on them, that the brakes are working, that everything is working, He makes them road worthy. And we know they are getting a good quality bike."

Asmundson said the most amazing part of this partnership is he found a need in the community and he made it happen.

'So often people are out their looking for existing volunteer opportunities, but sometimes there are ways to give back to the community that might not exist."

This program was needed in the community and he made it happen.

'All we do at FCSS is we have connections with local agencies that work with people that might be in need of a bicycle. We are just the connecting piece."

For more information call the FCSS office at 403-652-8620.