Strider® Teams Up with Friendship Circle for Great Bike Giveaway

Rapid City, SD (February 29, 2016) — Many people don’t realize what a difference an adaptive bike can make for an individual with special needs who struggles with balance and coordination. For the third year, Strider Bikes, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of no-pedal balance bikes, is teaming up with the Friendship Circle for their Great Bike Giveaway.

Last year, more than one million people participated in the Great Bike Giveaway and 145 children and teens received bicycles. The annual program has given away 300 adaptive bikes since its inception in 2012. Registration for the 2016 giveaway opens February 29 at 12 pm and ends at midnight March 4: www.friendshipcircle.org/bikes/. Entries are capped at 600 this year and the goal is for every child registered to win a bike.

“Something he’s always struggled with is moving the pedals and the balancing all at once,” said Jennifer Price in the Great Bike Giveaway video. Her son, Liam Snyder, won a Strider Bike in last year’s Great Bike Giveaway. He is featured in the video, along with several other winners, whose parents share how the bikes have changed the lives of their children.

During the registration period, family members or friends of a child with special needs must submit a photo and share their story. They will also need to recruit and register ten friends, or “ambassadors,” who will commit to spreading the word through email, conversations with others and social media.

Entry into the Great Bike Giveaway will be limited to the first 600 entrants who complete the registration form. After the first 600 registrations have been filled, a waiting list consisting of 200 slots will be opened. Voting begins March 8 at 12:00 pm and ends March 30 at 12 pm. The voting contest will enable one registrant in each bike category with the most votes to automatically win their selected bike.

Since its inception in 2007, Strider has donated over $600,000, which includes $250,000 in cash and $350,000 in bikes, to organizations that serve children and adults in need. Strider formalized its benevolence commitment with the creation of The Rider Fund, which was first introduced June 2014 at the Special Olympics USA Games. Since then, Strider has committed one percent of gross revenue from all sales worldwide to this fund. For more information about the Strider Rider Fund, visit http://www.striderbikes.com/about-us/join-the-cause.

About Strider Sports International, Inc.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Rapid City, SD, Strider Sports designs efficient, no-pedal balance bikes for children as young as 18 months, as well as for older riders with special needs. Strider’s mission is to simplify a bike to its essence, so proper size, weight, and simplicity combine to eliminate any fear of riding and instill confidence in the rider. Strider No-Pedal Balance Bikes are industry-leading training bikes that help children as young as 18 months learn to ride effectively on two wheels. Strider also manufactures balance bikes for individuals with special needs and for seniors wanting to stay active later in life. The patented Strider Balance Bikes focus on the fundamentals of balancing, leaning, and steering without the distractions and complications of pedals or training wheels. Strider Bikes are now distributed in more than 75 countries worldwide. In 2015, Strider sold its one-millionth bike. To learn more and to find a retailer in your area, visit www.StriderBikes.com, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

Friendship Circle

Friendship Circle of Michigan is a non-profit organization affiliated with Lubavitch of Michigan. Their goal is to provide every individual with special needs the support friendship and inclusion that they deserve.Friendship Circle provides assistance and support to 3,000 individuals with special needs and their families by providing recreational, social, educational and vocational programming. In addition to helping those in need, the Friendship Circle enriches its vast network of volunteers by enabling them to reap the rewards of selfless giving. Friendship Circle also provides support to individuals and families struggling with isolation, addiction and other family-related crises. Friendship Circle creates friendship in the lives of individuals with special needs and those facing isolation while providing an opportunity to become a contributing member of the community. Through our programming, Friendship Circle aims to promote an inclusive community that values all individuals regardless of the challenges they face.Friendship Circle is founded upon the idea that within each person is a soul; and that soul is equal and worthy of boundless love. With this inspiration, the lives of the families we serve are enhanced while the volunteers reap the rewards of selfless giving. http://www.friendshipcircle.org/