A Windsor Park couple is bringing joy to the lives of refugee children and their families.
Gilles and Huguette Remillard have donated more than 100 bicycles to kids and adults through the Immigration and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba.
It started back in May when the couple donated their first bikes to a refugee family living in Winnipeg who came from Ivory Coast.
Once other refugee children saw the bikes, demand for donations grew and the Remillards knew there was a need they had to fill.
Gilles now spends several hours each day fixing, refurbishing and polishing bikes the couple buys from Kijiji to donate to refugee children who don't have one.
Huguette said it’s very rewarding.
"They all want bikes, it's like a swarm of bees," said Huguette, describing the scene when the bikes are dropped off. "The smile on those kids' faces is worth more than a dollar."
The couple always wanted to travel to Africa to help families in need, but when Huguette had a stroke in 1994, they had to put their dream and their trip on hold.
Huguette and Gilles now say they're able to fulfill their dream in Winnipeg.
They help refugee families with paperwork and other household repairs, along with fixing up bikes.
