CREVE COEUR, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
No matter what happens on the field against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, the St. Louis Rams were already winners by Saturday afternoon. The Rams and Variety Children's Charity of St. Louis helped 275 dreams come true: 275 kids getting their first bikes. For the first time, the fleet of 275 new bikes for needy kids included 22 therapeutic bikes for disabled riders, bikes that can cost $3000.
It had Jessica Balduc, 7, of St. Peters blowing kisses from her bike seat.
Though she suffers from a chromosome disorder, she'd always dreamed the dream every kid dreams, dreams that for too long, ended where her driveway did.
"It's real hard, for all these years, she sits at the end of the driveway and watches all of the other kids ride," said her mother, Jennifer Balduc, through tears.
More than 100 volunteers, building 275 bikes, at The Whitfield School in Creve Coeur, changed everything.
Rams owner, Lucia Rodriguez, was among those volunteers, carrying on a cause so dear to her mother, the late Rams owner, Georgia Frontiere.
"This is a program my mother started 14 years ago," Rodriguez said. "She remembers getting a bike on Christmas morning...there's something so empowering for a kid to have a bike."
So it was for Jessica. She smiled that "new bike smile" and then off she went, actually "living" that driveway dream this time.
"It makes dad proud," her dad, Richard Balduc said, crying. "She tried one, she cried because we took her off of it. We can't afford one. So, Variety offered it. I'm sorry," he said, tears flowing. "My girls mean everything."
"This means a lot," his wife, Jennifer said, also crying. "This is the best Christmas she could have."
"Like you say, Jessica, sitting in the driveway, watching kind of the world pass her by, this is an incredible day," Rodrigez said. "So much can come from this, the level of self esteem derived from being able to sit on that bike and pedal. Anything is possible !"
"Many of the kids would never have an opportunity to receive a bike and know what it's like to have a bike in their neighborhood, ride a bike," said Barb Kramer, of Variety. "When they get a bike, they can be like everyone else in the neighborhood. They can go out with the friends. They can be like everybody else, go for a bike ride; have that mobility."
She also praised the volunteers who put them together.
"Getting them in town [pre] assembled would mean so many trucks, it would be a real problem. So we rely on our volunteers and can't thank them enough for the time they spend doing this."
Jessica's smile was all the thanks they needed.
"Fox 2 rocks," Jessica beamed, hamming for the Fox 2 camera.
No, Jessica, you rock. How wonderful to say, 'we'll be seeing you down the road'.
Along with the Rams, Bikes for Kids sponsors include World Wide Technology, and THF Realty.
It had Jessica Balduc, 7, of St. Peters blowing kisses from her bike seat.
Though she suffers from a chromosome disorder, she'd always dreamed the dream every kid dreams, dreams that for too long, ended where her driveway did.
"It's real hard, for all these years, she sits at the end of the driveway and watches all of the other kids ride," said her mother, Jennifer Balduc, through tears.
More than 100 volunteers, building 275 bikes, at The Whitfield School in Creve Coeur, changed everything.
Rams owner, Lucia Rodriguez, was among those volunteers, carrying on a cause so dear to her mother, the late Rams owner, Georgia Frontiere.
"This is a program my mother started 14 years ago," Rodriguez said. "She remembers getting a bike on Christmas morning...there's something so empowering for a kid to have a bike."
So it was for Jessica. She smiled that "new bike smile" and then off she went, actually "living" that driveway dream this time.
"It makes dad proud," her dad, Richard Balduc said, crying. "She tried one, she cried because we took her off of it. We can't afford one. So, Variety offered it. I'm sorry," he said, tears flowing. "My girls mean everything."
"This means a lot," his wife, Jennifer said, also crying. "This is the best Christmas she could have."
"Like you say, Jessica, sitting in the driveway, watching kind of the world pass her by, this is an incredible day," Rodrigez said. "So much can come from this, the level of self esteem derived from being able to sit on that bike and pedal. Anything is possible !"
"Many of the kids would never have an opportunity to receive a bike and know what it's like to have a bike in their neighborhood, ride a bike," said Barb Kramer, of Variety. "When they get a bike, they can be like everyone else in the neighborhood. They can go out with the friends. They can be like everybody else, go for a bike ride; have that mobility."
She also praised the volunteers who put them together.
"Getting them in town [pre] assembled would mean so many trucks, it would be a real problem. So we rely on our volunteers and can't thank them enough for the time they spend doing this."
Jessica's smile was all the thanks they needed.
"Fox 2 rocks," Jessica beamed, hamming for the Fox 2 camera.
No, Jessica, you rock. How wonderful to say, 'we'll be seeing you down the road'.
Along with the Rams, Bikes for Kids sponsors include World Wide Technology, and THF Realty.
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