LONGMONT, Colo. (KMGH) — Forty-three first graders in Longmont, Colorado got a big surprise.

They were given a free bicycle courtesy of Can'd Aid, The Braly Family Foundation and dozens of Longmont residents who spent Thursday evening putting them all together.

The program, Treads + Trails, aims to get kids of all backgrounds outside through biking.

"My first feeling of freedom as a kid that I can remember is getting on my bike and riding away from my family without training wheels," said Mike Murfitt, an ambassador for Can’d Aid. "Being able to give a kid that experience is pretty unique."

Dozens of volunteers and ambassadors gathered at CYCLHOPS Bike CANtina to assemble the bikes the night before the big surprise.

"Everybody gets to have a beer, sign in and just put together a bike for a kid," said Murfitt. "It's pretty cool to get a kid excited about something like this."

Part of Treads + Trails' initiative is to get kids involved in outdoor activities at a time when screen usage among kids is at an all-time high.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, the average eight to 10-year-old spends an average of 7.5 hours in front of a screen every single day. Organizers hope that by giving the kids bikes, it will inspire them to get outside.

"COVID has forced so many students to go on screens, and if you're in your home, hopefully, this provides an outlet for energy," said Toni Pickett, a representative for the Braly Family Foundation, which is underwriting the bike donation. "I think it's great to be to give them an opportunity to learn something that they can do for life"

This story was originally reported by Sloan Dickey on thedenverchannel.com.

CINCINNATI —

Christmas came a little early to a few hundred children in Avondale Friday as a group of men from the community was happy to be the ones to play Santa, giving kids in the neighborhood a fresh pair of wheels.

Two words could sum up what children in Avondale were feeling this Christmas Eve.

"So happy!" said Kimora Porker who received a bike.

The joy of riding off on a brand new bike was well worth the wait in the line to get there that stretched around the building.

"It's an overjoy for a kid to get a big gift and a big gift as a bike," said Mike Ward.

Ward and his brother, Rodney Summers, grew up in Avondale. For the past three years, their group of friends has partnered with Rev. Anthony Peek of Living God Church.

"It's just to see the smiles on the kids' faces, you know that, and the parents who couldn't originally afford this during this particular time where things have been economically hard for them," said Peek.

These men say it's important for them to show up for the children in their community, not only because they care but they can relate.

"When me and him were little, we wanted bikes and racetracks. We just like to see that warm smile that we know we put on their faces," said Ward.

Children like Jamie'on Smith couldn't stop admiring his new bike.

"I think that and I didn't have a kike in a little while, so I'm gonna have a nice time driving it," he said.

Kimora Porker woke her mom up early to get her bike.

"They were overly excited. I told them yesterday that we had to be here, and they woke me up early so we could get here," said Porker's mom, Victoria.

It was a first-come, first-serve event. Around 200 bikes were given away, along with coats, gloves and pizza. They hope to continue the bike giveaway in the future.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSHB) — Ontario Hill said he takes his mother's advice very seriously.

"My momma told me to go to school every day," the kindergartner said. "That's why I have to go to school every day, so I can learn."

And that's exactly what the young kindergartner and his classmates at Frontier Schools in Kansas City, Missouri are doing — learning.

In their P.E. class, they're learning a new skill: how to ride bikes.

"You have fun with your friends," Hill said.

P.E. teacher Johnny Brown said it gives his students a sense of independence.

"A bike is in a lot of ways freedom, freedom to go places," Brown said. "And it's also really enjoyable, riding a bike."

Eric Sharp, one of the teachers at the school said it is one of the first things students learn that adults can do too.

"So they see people bigger than them doing this and once they do it, that confidence level just goes through the roof," Sharp said.

Sharp, who is an avid bike rider, looked to raise $5,000 to provide bikes for the kindergartners.

"I started through the Strider corporation," Sharp said. "I just went through them and buy enough for the 25 bikes for our kindergartners."

It is part of a national program called "All Kids Bike" through the Strider Education Foundation.

Sharp reached out to the local mountain bike community, and they helped him raise 85 percent of the funds.

"When you see 25 kids riding on a bike at the same time, it leaves you almost speechless," Sharp said. "To try and describe it, you can't even put into words, just enjoyable."

The bikes are a little unique.

"They don't have any pedals," Sharp said. "So they can sit on the seat and sit on the ground just like this. It keeps them nice and sturdy and safe and they just walk. As they progress, they can go a little bit faster."

And even though some may fall, it's getting back up that's important.

"We also want to teach them life skills, so riding a bike, that's that confidence, that lifelong athletic activity that they know they can do to stay in shape and have fun," Sharp said.

Sharp's goal is to expand the bike program so more students at Frontier Schools can learn how to ride.

This story was originally reported by Rae Daniel on KSHB.com.