BATAVIA — Kris Bazan rode his bicycle to school every day. Then, it was stolen from his front porch.
Without his wheels, Kris had to walk to Batavia High School, which doubled his time to get to school.
On Thursday afternoon, Kris was ready to ride once more. A group of community members came together to replace the ninth-grader’s bicycle.
The effort all started when LeeAnn Mullen, owner of Tahoe Pines Wellness Center was on Facebook when she read that Kris Bazan had his bicycle stolen from his front porch.
“He happens to be the grandson of one of my good friends,” she said. “(Kris) uses his bicycle to and from school. He has to provide his own way to school — which is two miles each way — because he’s in that limitation of having to walk.”
Mullen, a member of the Batavia Lions Club and Genesee County Interagency Council, reached out to the two organizations to help to do something for Kris.
That’s when the entire community pulled together.
John Roche, owner of Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, 8 Center St., located an anonymous donor from Day of Caring who gave an 18-speed black mountain bike. Peter Garlock, Genesee County Office for the Aging Program Specialist Courtney Iburi and her husband also provided monetary donations. Mullen said between the Lion’s Club, the anonymous donor and Interagency Council, everyone has pulled together to make sure Kris has a bicycle to get back and forth to school with.
“It’s really nice,” Kris said when asked how he felt about everyone coming together to get him the bike.
It takes Kris about 30 to 40 minutes to walk to Batavia High School. On a bike, he can make the trip in 10 to 20 minutes.
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