The Gav’s Bikes charity venture in Ossett has grown from Gavin Nelson- Auty working one bike he saved from scrap when his neighbour was going to throw it away.
“I rebuilt it and gave it away,” he said.
“After posting it on the Facebook group/page ‘You Know You Have Lived in Ossett’, a swell of people were talking about me and what I did with just that one bike.”
“I just started taking them and giving them away, and thought why not ask for donations? I donated it to Families and Babies Wakefield. I was taking two or three children at a time with their parents to Smyths Toys with £100 each to spend.” He decided to ask for reasonable prices to raise more funds and the bikes kept on coming and going. “It’s been crazy. I have raised well over £10,000 for various causes,” Gav said.
It’s a busy service as Gav puts 100% into each bike and makes them look great.
Mr Nelson-Auty has been nominated for the Pride of Britain Awards, a Local Community Hero award and a Leeds Utdaward. “Not that I have won anything but the fact people have nominated me is humbling,” he said. Bikes are donated from the local community and Yorkshire. Interest in Gav’s Bikes has come from Doncaster, Sheffield and Bradford.
Other local charities Gav’s Bikes supports are Stepping Stones Baby Bank in Ossett, GoFundMe pages, local Foodbanks and care homes.
“One of the most important ones for me was a huge donation to a very special young boy from Horbury who recently passed away. I was fortunate to meet him, and he will forever be in my heart. He was a true warrior, and his family are
amazing,” he said.
He also supplies new bikes for children with disabilities and to nurseries.
Gav lost his Dad at 27. He and his family took it hard. “I wasn’t myself, angry, sad, lost. I felt that way for 10 years even losing my own little family. I was severely depressed and had been so close at times to giving up. Last year was probably the worst I had ever been. I battled on, and took this as an opportunity to keep busy,” he said.
“I have never felt as good as I do now, even before my Dad passed. I’m giving myself purpose and making people happy. You can’t beat that feeling and I’ll never stop.”
