It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and tears of pride rolled down my cheeks. My four-year-old son had just learnt how to ride a bike. I felt like the proudest mum in the world. It is true, riding a bike is one of life’s simple pleasures, and is most certainly one of my fondest memories from my childhood.

Sadly, many kids don’t have a bike, and Variety Queensland the children’s charity is working hard to try and change this!

In 2010, Variety Queensland helped over 30,000 disadvantaged kids across the state, and this year they have joined forces with Zinc Radio, Big W and Diamondback Bikes to give a bike to a child who doesn’t have one, but they need your help to do this.

This week Variety Queensland are running an appeal called “Bikes 4 Kids” to give a bike-less child a bike! They have identified a number of children across the state in need, including kids in Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns who were also affected by floods and by TC Yasi. With so many kids having so little and then the added worries of floods and cyclones, it’s a small ask to make a big difference.

$200 will provide a brand new bike (including helmet!) for a Queensland child.

Do you think you can muster $200 between your friends? Or encourage your workplace to host a morning tea or dress down Friday and raise some dollars?

So go on, make a huge and lasting difference to a child’s life. To make a donation to this very worthy appeal, please call Variety Queensland on 07 3907 9300 or go to their website http://www.variety.org.au/QLD/WHATS-ON/Bikes-4-Kids/