He’s collecting cycles for the greater good. In his pickup truck, Coral Shores senior Steelman Nicoletti recently made his second drive up the stretch and on to Fort Lauderdale to deliver 15 bikes.
With his most recent shipment, Nicoletti has gathered and sent roughly 30 bikes as part of a collection effort to support the Fort Lauderdale/Cypress Creek Rotary Club’s Bicycles for Humanity service project. Bikes gathered through the club are sent over to third-world countries to help break the cycle of poverty.
Nicoletti said he started gathering bikes from the Upper Keys a month ago, and he plans to keep the effort going with help from all islands. Nicoletti said he takes great pride helping people, from close friends to supporting special causes for the greater good.
“It’s what I want to do, and it gives me such great enjoyment,” he said. “The sheer number of bikes I’ve been able to get in my truck has been outstanding so far.”
When there are enough cycles to fill the truck, Nicoletti ventures to Allied Roofing in Fort Lauderdale for drop-off, where he’s met by Jeff Kostick, Fort Lauderdale Cypress Rotary Club past president.
“What Steelman is doing is remarkable,” he said. “His desire to help people in another country that he will never meet is wonderful.”
And bikes gathered haven’t only gone to the mainland. Nicoletti said several cycles in peak condition were donated to the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter in Tavernier. Ben Kemmer, executive director of the shelter, said the four bikes Steelman donated are being put to use.
“The kids have been out during their lunch breaks riding the bikes around the lots. They love them,” he said.
Nicoletti said his next delivery to the mainland will happen when there’s a truck full of bikes, and that’s usually 15 to 20. With immense support from the Upper Keys, Nicoletti said he wants to get communities to the south involved as well.
“I just want to get as many bikes as I can. It’s just awesome to be helping them out,” he said. “The (Fort Lauderdale/Cypress Creek Rotary) club sends over a ton of bikes, and that helps expand a (third-world) village’s economy if people are too far away to walk or don’t have any transportation resources to get the water and food they need.”
Upon graduation, Nicoletti plans to attend Florida State University, where he plans to study molecular biology. He said he wants to become a geneticist with a goal to provide gene therapy through a new rapid cell injection device.
“I’d like to open a clinic where I can offer this for a low price, using financing options,” he said. “I love the world around me. I think everyone should praise the fact that we live in a beautiful universe. It’s chaotic, but I hate to see people suffer because they can’t function correctly because of some disease.”
Those who want to donate a bike or can donate a trailer to load more bikes can contact Nicoletti at satnicoletti@gmail.com or by texting him at 305-570-8434 (make sure you say hey, Bikeman!).
