Blake donated his new bike to a child in need—and his generosity was contagious!
When 10-year-old Blake Toavs won a new bike in a coloring contest, he did something unexpected that created a beautiful ripple effect of loving generosity
Blake Toavs was happily watching his favorite show when a commercial about children with cancer came on TV. The Williston, North Dakota, fourth-grader had never known anyone with cancer, but as he gazed at the kids his age with bald heads, hooked up to hospital IVS, his heart clouded with sadness.
Do they ever get to have fun? he wondered, unable to imagine having to be stuck in a hospital bed instead of playing outside with his friends. That’s so unfair, he thought.
Soon after, Blake’s parents, Karen and Darin, took him to their local Famous Dave’s restaurant. While taking their orders, the waitress mentioned they were having a coloring contest. The prize: a new bike.
“I’m in!” Blake beamed, and drew a pink pig swimming in a pond. On the back, he wrote, If my drawing wins, donate it to kids with cancer.
“Are you sure?” his mother questioned, knowing his own bike was three years old with peeling paint and a kickstand that never worked.
“It’s important for people who are sick to be happy,” Blake insisted.
Karen smiled, touched by her son’s caring heart.
Beau Fredericks, the manager of Famous Dave’s, was touched, too, when Blake’s entry won first place and he saw the note.
Immediately, Beau contacted a local cancer center to honor Blake’s wish. When told they didn’t treat pediatric patients but that many of their patients had kids who could use cheering up, Beau asked Blake if it would be okay if they donated the bike he’d won to a little boy whose mom had cancer. Beau even said the restaurant would throw in a second bike for the boy’s younger brother and gift cards for the family. “That’s awesome!” Blake exclaimed. And when the cancer center’s director picked up the gifts, he told Blake the family was deeply grateful and the boys were over the moon.
Word of Blake’s good deed spread quickly, even getting picked up by the news. And when Bob Kupper, owner of Kupper Chevrolet in Mandan, saw the story, he was so inspired by the young boy giving up a brand-new bike for a child he didn’t know, he decided Blake deserved a special reward, too.
Soon, a brand-new, shiny black mountain bike with 11 gears was delivered to Blake.
‘I was really excited to see everyone giving,’ says Blake “Doing good holds the power to transform us on the inside, and then ripple out in ever-expanding circles that positively impact the world.” Shari Arison
I love it! Blake jotted on the thank-you poster he made for Bob with a picture of himself riding his new bike. Today, Beau marvels at how his restaurant’s simple coloring contest started such an amazing chain of giving. “Greatness builds greatness. When someone like Blake sparks a fire to do good, it touches everyone,” he says. Blake’s mom smiles proudly. “Blake has always had a huge heart for helping others,” Karen says. “He gets so much joy from giving.” And Blake is thrilled that his act of kindness triggered such an outpouring of caring. “I was really excited to see everyone giving a lot and that the family got things they needed,” Blake grins. “I always want to make people happy because giving to others helps make you so happy, too.” — Diane Nichols