Lower Hutt kids launch bike fundraiser for neighbouring school

Students at a Lower Hutt private school are hard at work raising money for new bikes - but not for themselves. In fact, they're giving them away to children at a nearby state school.

The Year 4s at Wellesley College heard of another school down the road that got a brand new bike track, but not enough bikes - so they're stepping in.

Randwick School's $90,000 track was installed over the summer break, and has been helping pupils get healthier in body and mind.

"Coming back into the classroom after that, they're certainly a lot more alert and a lot more engaged, which has made a really big difference," says Randwick principal Simonne Goodall.

There's just one problem - not all the kids can ride it, as just 20 percent of the 150 or so students own a bike.

"It was great to get the track in place - that was sort of number one - but we were surprised that so few kids either didn't have bikes, or didn't have bikes that were actually ride-able," says Goodall.

Local businesses and charities have been donating second-hand bikes for pupils to use at break-times, but finding new bikes that'll require less maintenance, or bikes the pupils can take home with them, has been hard.

"My aim is for every child to have a bike. If we manage to do that, we'll be feeling pretty proud," says Goodall.

Help has come from another school just 7km away - the eight and nine-year-olds of Wellesley College want to raise the money for Randwick.

Wellesley pupil Daniel Nguyen explained why he was doing it.

"Riding bikes can help our physical health and mental health. And because riding bikes is fun!"

The Wellesley boys have been learning about mental health, mindfulness and the vagus nerve, which connects the brain and the heart.

"Being kind helps strengthen your vagus nerve," explains Ravi Berneau.

Helping out Randwick was the ideal way to strengthen the vagus nerve, so they've set up Donate a Dollar Day on September 26 to get Randwick their bikes, and to encourage people to feel better about themselves by donating.

"We don't want anything in return, we just want them to have a lot of bikes, and hopefully they can all enjoy their bike track at once," says Griffin Patterson.

Some famous faces are already in the saddle - including politicians Trevor Mallard, James Shaw and Simon Bridges, and All Black Ardie Savea. 

But rather than a few people donating a lot of money, they want a lot of people donating a little. Everyone's dollar is equal, whether they're famous or not.

"By donating one dollar, they're doing something kind towards others. This small act of kindness makes people feel good," says Alban Boaden-Trotter.

It's a tale of one dollar donations hoping to put every Randwick child on two wheels.

If you'd like to Donate a Dollar on or before September 26, the details are as follows:

Bank: ANZ

Name: Donate a Dollar Day

Account number: 06-0501-0826230-10

You can also donate via Instagram or Facebook.

Newshub.