Every child is born to ride, but not every child gets the opportunity. That's why County Executive Robert P. Astorino and the Westchester Cycling Club (WCC) have teamed up to launch "Bikes4Kids," which will help to collect, refurbish and donate bicycles to local foster children.

"The bicycles collecting dust in your garage can make a real difference in the life of a foster child," Astorino said. "Riding a bike is one of life's greatest rites of passage. I want to thank the Westchester Cycling Club as well as all the local bike shops that are helping out. I can't wait to see all the smiles this will bring."

People can donate gently-used bicycles at any of the nearly 20 local bike shops that have signed on to help. From there, WCC will collect and store the bikes in space donated by the White Plains YMCA. WCC volunteers, with the help of the local bike shops, will then refurbish the bicycles, and the Westchester County Department of Social Services will help to identify foster children in need.

"Westchester Cycle Club wants to work with cyclists, bike owners and bike shops to get the most and best bikes we can for these kids who need and will appreciate them," said Bill O'Connell, WCC board member and architect of the Bikes4Kids initiative. "WCC thanks Rob Astorino for helping us make this valuable program happen. So if you have a bike to contribute or you want to help us find, fix up or donate bikes, please contact us as soon as possible."

For more information, e-mail or call (914) 294-4WCC.

Special thanks also goes to the Jill E. Solomon Foundation, of White Plains, which will provide bicycle helmets to those in need; as well as the New York Auto Club for providing materials and activities designed to promote safe cycling.

"These kids don't always have the easiest lives," said DSS Commissioner Kevin McGuire. "So to give them the chance to truly be a kid, forget their worries for a while, and enjoy a bike ride is just tremendous. I offer my thanks to all involved."