FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Coronvirus forced the cancellation of the iconic Christmas event, the Bicycle Man Giveaway, but the event is returning.

Ann Mathis, who is the CEO of the Bicycle Man Community Outreach, said that the giveaway will happen next Saturday, April 24.

“It was tough. It was disappointing because I really wanted to give the bikes out, “ Mathis said. “I decided that we just couldn’t do it. I felt bad that I couldn’t give the kids bikes for Christmas.”

In the warehouse, there’s about 1,000 bikes. It is not likely that all of them will be given out next weekend because COVID-19 restrictions will still limit the number of people who can attend the giveaway.

So, Mathis is hoping to hold a second giveaway in December, near its traditional Christmas occurrence.

The giveaway was started way back in 1990 by Moses Mathis, the original bicycle man. He died in 2013. Before his passing, Mathis promised her husband that she would continue the event.

Its cancellation in 2020 was the first time in the event’s history that has happened.