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.

The pandemic has brought structural racism in health care to the surface, not just through COVID-19 infections, deaths and access to care, but also within perceptions.

“We were really, really, you know, shocked to see the influence of discrimination on the perception of discrimination and on people's receipt of care,” said Carl V. Hill, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at the Alzheimer's Association.

The annual Alzheimer’s Association report released Tuesday also included a look for the first time at experiences of communities of color and perspectives of the disease and dementia care.

They found two thirds of Black Americans believe it’s harder for them to get excellent care. Native Americans, Hispanic and Asian Americans have similar feelings.

“As people feel like they will be treated unfairly in a health care setting, they're less likely to go and seek care, right, and so we know that delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis is a huge factor for the disparities that we see,” said Hill.

Diverse communities also see bias in dementia research, and many don't trust a future cure would be equal.

“So, working with organizations that represent the well-being of, for example, African Americans and Latinos, so that we can create trust you know, so we can become trustworthy and provide resources as they relate to education and awareness, or care and support, to those communities,” said Hill.

The Alzheimer’s Association is also working to improve cultural competence and diversity within health care.

African Americans and Hispanics were found to be up to twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. More than 6 million seniors are living with the disease.