It's often said, Christmas is a time for giving, and one man in Sydney is doing almost enough for all of us.
There's not much room in Mark Pate's backyard. It's packed with more than 700 bicycles, stacked in long rows from the fence to the porch. From kids bikes, to mountain bikes they form a tangled mess of metal and cables.
Mark quit his job to collect bicycles — and they appear on the doorstep 24 hours a day. Mostly intact, sometimes broken, but always accepted. Repaired and re-birthed, they're destined for the homes of those who can't afford them.
It started in 2003, a desire to help those less fortunate, combined with a dose of envirnomental and health concerns.
His first project was daunting. Seven-thousand pushbikes shipped to East Timor. A logistical nightmare wrapped in transport worries and red tape, but one that yielded satisfaction.
This year he's concentrated closer to home. With his wife supporting him, Mark is now working full time collecting bikes. With the aid of trucking company, Northline, he sent a shipment of 300 to Alice Springs.
They were met by Michael Clerck from the Alice Springs Youth Accommodation and Support Services. He runs a program called "Deadly Treadlies". It encourages disadvantaged youth to join a workshop. There, kids that are normally on the street and have little to their name learn how to build and maintain bicycles. When they're done they keep the finished product. And this year with such a large shipment from Sydney, it's meant Christmas presents at just the right time of year...
Mark Pate works free of charge but is chasing sponsorship, support and storage space. Anyone wishing to lend a helping hand can contact him at home on 02 9585 1152. If you have a homeless bike it can be dropped off at his address. 21 Dardenells Road, Mortdale, NSW.
More details available on Mark's website: www.goodwillbicycles.com
