Cyclists repair bikes for needy kids
Club members help Mission with Bikes founder with his project
By Julia Rogers, Correspondent
October 20, 2002

Members of the Conejo Valley Cyclists gathered at the home of an Agoura Hills man Saturday, volunteering to help with his ongoing project of repairing bicycles and sending them to the less-fortunate children at home and around the globe.

Mark Blum started the program Mission with Bikes in 1996, after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and forced to resign as vice president of an insurance company.

"I began Mission with Bikes so that I could get the bikes to the sick or needy children that didn't have them," Blum said.

"I've always loved bikes, so this seemed like the right thing for me to do after the diagnosis. I can't work on the bikes myself anymore, so having the extra help this weekend really was a great thing."

A network of people donates bicycles, tools and bike parts so that other volunteers can repair old broken bikes and then give them to people who need them. Almost 300 bicycles are piled up on Blum's lawn just waiting to be repaired and given away.

Recently, the all-volunteer team helping Blum repair and restore the bicycles in his garage has dwindled. That's why the Conejo Valley Cyclists decided to pitch in, said Joy Kobayashi, bike club member and organizer of Saturday's work party at Blum's home.

"One of our members found out about Mark and his work, and we all wanted to help with such a worthwhile project," she said.

"When he found out he was sick, he took a bad situation and turned it around so that he could reach out to others. All of us feel privileged to be a part of his dream."

Blum works with more than 100 organizations throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange and Los Angeles counties. He has placed bikes with sick and needy children in Bulgaria, Russia, Mexico and across the United States. He's also placed at least 60 bicycles on Navajo and Hopi reservations.

Recently the CVC members raised $1,000 and started an account for Blum at the Newbury Park Bicycle Shop. That was the only way Blum would accept the gift, said Mike Cicchi, co-owner of the store.

"Mark won't take any money, so we thought opening an account for parts would be a good way to help him out with this project," Cicchi said.

"I'm glad our store can be a part of this. We need more people like Mark in the world. He does a lot of good for a lot of people."

Blum, who is legally blind and has lost much of the manual dexterity in his hands and feet, said that right now his biggest challenge is getting volunteers to come to his house and work on the bikes.

"When I could work on the bikes, I did. Now that I can't, I organize other people and show them how to do it," he said. "I used to get a lot more people here, but lately it's been slow. I have the bikes; I just need the help."

For more information call (818) 991-5805.

On the Net: cvcbike.org