Fayetteville Bicycle Man Brings Joy To Children For Holidays

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A Fayetteville man who gives kids bikes every year around this time of year is at it again.

For the last eight years, Moses Mathis, known to many as the "Bicycle Man," has been refurbishing new bikes and giving them to children for Christmas. He spent the last year fixing up 500 bikes that have been donated across the state.

"I'm retired, and the good Lord has blessed me," Mathis said. "I'm going to go out and bless as many children as I can until the good Lord says it is time for me to come home."

Children came in all morning Monday to pick up their early Christmas presents. Joshua Oldhan, 2, came with his father, David, to pick up a bike.

"It really feels great to be able to give my son something like this," David said. "The idea of him coming out here to pick it out is that much better."

"The only thing he needs to do is grow a little beard and I'd call him my Santa Claus," said 12-year-old Tony Elliott.

All of the children who pick up bikes are also getting a helmet to wear.

"The smiles, the thank yous, the hugs -- that's what we work for," Mathis said.

Mathis said he is also branching out in the computer world. He said he has refurbished 30 computers this year and is trying to figure out how to distribute them.