Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), in collaboration with its implementing partner Good Neighbors International Philippines (GNIP), recently donated bicycles for school kids in the remote areas of Sitio Bakal and Sitio Ibayo along the border between Quezon City and Rizal.

The donated bikes will benefit 9 to 12 year-old students ranging from Grades 2 to 10 who walk 30 to 45 minutes to school, traversing a trail that becomes almost impassable during the rainy season as the ground becomes muddy when it rains.

The bikes will help the students get to school or home faster, cutting their travel time by half and giving them more time to study. The fully accessorized bikes likewise come with helpful and convenient accessories such as mud guards, to help keep their uniforms clean; basket carriers, for their school bags; bike bell, for safety; as well as chains and locks, to help the students secure their bikes. Apart from these, the students were also given raincoats and boots that they can use during the rainy season.

“The length of travel time really affects one’s performance in school, especially if the route is a difficult one,” says Kristine Millete, Executive Director of the Sun Life Foundation. “By helping improve their journey to and from school, our students will have the opportunity to focus on the most important things in their lives as children, like studying, and playing.”

To complement the donations, the recipients of the bicycles were also treated to a Sun Life Cycle PH Kids’ Bike Camp, where they learned bike skills and safety tips, got to meet Sun Life Health Ambassador Donny Pangilinan, and also took their new bikes for a spin.

Sun Life Foundation the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines is committed to the betterment of communities through various projects that reflect the organization’s commitment to help the Filipino nation achieve a brighter future.