Girls Inc. to honor Marblehead resident

LYNN-Marblehead resident Ryan Heffrin and her family have donated over 150 bikes to needy children on the North Shore, inspiring Girls Incorporated of Lynn to honor the Marblehead High School senior at their annual volunteer dinner this month.Heffrin, 17, began the Bikes for Tykes program four years ago, taking old, broken bikes and restoring them for charity with the help of her father, Jim. The family donates the just-like-new bikes to area youth groups and organizations, complete with a new bike helmet donated by the Marblehead Police.The non-profit organization has since evolved with Ryan, Jim and her twin 15-year-old brothers Kyle and Peter hosting workshops and bike rides at Girls Inc. and other area organizations.The workshops teach kids how to take care of the bikes, check tire pressure and fix minor problems. Over the summer, a group of Girls Inc. students received new bikes and took a ride with the Heffrins from Girls Inc. to Nahant, and eventually back to Red Rock Park for ice cream.The students involved are part of the Girls Inc. elementary school summer program’s sports adventure unit, and were selected to receive the bikes based on need.Girls Inc. will continue to partner with Bikes for Tykes next month, when the organization will begin bi-monthly bike trips.”All of the bikes are donated by local residents, and then we fix them up and bring them over to Girls Inc.,” said Ryan’s mother, Maryanne. “We show them how to tune up the bikes, check the brakes, things like that.”Along with the Marblehead Police, Bikes for Tykes has received help from Marblehead Cycle, who helps the family with tips for fixing the bikes and keeping them in good shape.Heffrin will be honored at the Girls Inc. volunteer dinner Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the Girls Inc. Broad Street headquarters.