Picture your first bike, from childhood. Maybe it was bright red, customised with stickers or a basket; maybe you rode it round your neighbourhood, or out to the beach with your friends.
For Kellee Ireland, Head of Operations and Kids Support at children's charity Variety and dedicated commuter cyclist, it was an old purple Drag Star with a banana seat.
"We would stack up as many kids as we could on that seat, and there'd be someone on the handlebars and we'd go down hills," she remembered.
"We'd be screaming and laughing — that bike gave us so much joy."
That feeling of freedom is exactly what the Variety Bikes for Kids program is all about.
Variety is a children's charity focused on helping Australian kids thrive. Its Bikes for Kids program gifts bikes to kids who are sick or have additional needs, or those who have never been lucky enough to have a bike of their own.
The program, now in its 24th year, has had an enormous impact, giving 15,000 bikes to kids who might not otherwise be able to access one.
"The benefits are just huge," said Georgie Smith, Variety's Fundraising and Campaigns Manager, who herself rides an e-bike to work every day.
"Riding a bike as a child is about joy, it's about independence and freedom, the ability to join in with your friends, and get out and about — it's about connection, really. Fundamentally it's about building lifelong friendships, and there's no price you can put on that.
"On top of that, it's an excellent way to boost kids' physical and mental health — we all know the feeling of a bike ride clearing your head and getting your heart rate up.
"And this year we're seeing an increased demand for bikes because with the fuel crisis, parents are struggling not just to buy a bike but to drive their kids places. It's a practical tool as well to get around."
But it's really the emotional impact that justifies the program.
At events like 100 Bikes for 100 Kids — recently held at Marvel Stadium — Variety hosts corporate bike builders who come and build bikes out of boxes, has the bikes checked by a bike mechanic and finally gives the bikes away to kids and their families.
"Is it really mine?!" Ireland hands over a bike to a child experiencing disadvantage at the Marvel Stadium event — the look on his face says it all!
"It's a little bit chaotic but the smile on the kids' faces justifies everything," said Ireland.
"You hear statements like 'the best day of my life', or you see parents who have come without their kids because it's their birthday and they want to surprise them...it's so special to see.
"Bikes for Kids is a program that takes significant effort to bring together," she added. "We work weekends, start early and often finish late to make it happen, but the team is deeply committed because it is so meaningful. You can genuinely see the difference it makes."
One such family to benefit are the MacGregors. Based in Frankston, the family has five kids, two with additional needs. Their father is an ambulance driver and can only get work in Gippsland, three hours away.
"All those kids couldn't join in with their friends riding after school," said Smith. "The kids were so excited to receive their bikes — they could finally be part of the group, and go out riding as a family as well.
"One of the kids, even though he is super shy, stood up and said, thank you so much, it means so much for me and all my family. It was very moving."
This year, Variety is partnering with United Energy Around the Bay as a charity partner. Riders in the event can choose to fundraise for Variety Bikes for Kids, giving every child the opportunity to experience the joy of bike riding.
"Everyone who rides Around the Bay knows the freedom and joy of bike riding," said Ireland. "They know what it really means for a child to get their first bike.
"These kids are the future riders of Around the Bay.
"We hope riders might remember their own childhood first bike and how it's connected them to loving bike riding as adults.
"By riding for Variety this year, they can pay that feeling forward."
Learn more about Variety Bikes for Kids here.
Sign up for United Energy Around the Bay 2026 here.
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