Bicycle Donation Becomes Family Tradition

There's something special about a bicycle.

Even if a youngster is limited to pedaling around the neighborhood, the bicycle "takes you on great journeys," says Bill Tumelty.

His enchantment with the two-wheeler led him to begin donating bicycles to needy children during Christmas some 26 years ago. He passed the tradition on to his daughter, Lisa, who began helping him find bicycles her senior year of high school.

Now the torch has been passed to Lisa's children.

Four months ago, Cline Burgess, 7, piped up and asked his Grandpa if the family would be giving out bicycles this year. He had pitched in the past two years, but this was the first time he started the conversation.

Tumelty decided to leave the project up to Cline this year. The second-grader jumped into his task with relish.

He would pay for the bike through chores, including raking leaves and retrieving the mail for his neighbor when she was out of town.

His favorite chore was decorating for Christmas at his grandparents' house.

"He couldn't believe someone would pay him to trim the tree," Tumelty said with a chuckle.

At the bottom of his list was cleaning up after the dog.

All this work meant video games had to go on a temporary hiatus, but Cline said Tuesday that he didn't mind. By the time he was through, he had raised about $50.

Cline's school, Wider Horizons School, helps out seven needy families chosen every year by St. Vincent de Paul ministries. Thanks to Cline's hard work, a sleek purple Schwinn will be given to a 13-year-old girl in one of those families.

Tumelty is proud that the bicycle tradition is moving through the generations, but he shies away from using the word "generosity" to describe his actions.

"We're only giving back the good that was given to us," he said.

Like paying it forward?

"That's exactly what it is."