Check out Justin's new ride

Justin Sylvestre, ten years old, says his cool new wheels are just a bit big for him.

But he's really happy with them anyway.

Today, Justin and 14 other kids aged nine to 13 picked up new Raleigh mountain bikes and bicycle helmets for their participation in the Tim Hortons Earn A Bike program during the month of June.

Sylvestre said he didn't think he was working more than about 10 hours because it was a lot of fun, too.

He's seen with Willow Strom, nine years old, a fellow Earn a Bike participant.

The participants spent 30 hours cleaning up local parks and schools over the month of June to earn the bikes donated by local Tim Horton stores and they were finally awarded the long-awaited wheels today at Sault Ste. Marie Police Service headquarters.

They were selected and supervised by Constable Louise Oliver, who also coordinated the program.

"The Earn a Bike program is a great way to teach kids about teamwork and the value of working toward something," said Tim Hortons Store Owner Rick McLeod. "We are so proud to sponsor this program and I would like to congratulate all of the kids on their hard work and dedication to completing their 30 hours each of community service. They should all feel proud to know that the bikes and helmets they are receiving are so well-deserved."

Monica McNally and Dick Brown, the two other local Tim Horton's owners, were also on hand at the police station along with proud family members and Police Services summer students to watch the smiles and excitement as Earn a Bike program participants reaped the rewards of their efforts for the past month.