Head Coach Vance Joseph joined coaches, executives, staff members, players and family members to assemble more than 100 bikes in record time. (Photos: Aric DiLalla)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Head Coach Vance Joseph traded his headset for a wrench Wednesday as he hosted more than 80 members of the Broncos organization to build more than 100 bicycles for low-income students in Denver.
"For the kids, it's going to be very exciting to have the chance to get a brand-new bike," Joseph said. "For a first- or second-grader, that's going to be exciting. That can change lives — just to have a bike to ride to school or to the store or play with your friends. It just makes their quality of life go up a bit."
President and CEO Joe Ellis was also in attendance as coaches, executives, staff members, players and family members came together to build the bikes for first- and second-grade students.
The event, which was held in the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse, benefits Wish for Wheels, a nonprofit that aims to give children bicycles and helmets in order to improve their quality of life and promote a healthy lifestyle.
"This bike build is truly a team effort," Executive Director of Community Development Allie Pisching said. "It's a project spearheaded by Coach Joseph and supported by the players, as well as the entire staff and their families. The Broncos are committed to improving lives in the community, and there is no better example of that than a project that brings together all facets of the organization for a common goal. We are pleased to provide brand new bicycles and helmets to low-income students in Denver so that they can improve their quality of life through health, safety and most importantly – fun!"
A handful of Broncos players paused their offseason work to also participate Wednesday. Cody Latimer, Will Parks, Brandon McManus, Kyle Peko, Derek Wolfe and Menelik Watson all helped assemble the new bikes.
"I'm always in the community," Parks said. "It's not for any awards or anything like that, I just wish somebody did this for us back in Philly when we were kids. I wish that people that had my platform or my position took more time out of their day. It's the offseason — so just being able to come out here to support Coach and you know help out with some of my teammates and see some of my coaches after not seeing them for a month, it's pretty cool."
Joseph and Broncos staff members will distribute the bicycles Thursday at a local elementary school. Each student will be paired with a staff member, who will help them get fitted for their bikes.
