An annual event making the holidays a little brighter for children continues today.
"Alex's Christmas for Kids" went on this year despite the death of the event's founder Alex Cooks.
A regular event during the holidays in the Carrollwood area in Tampa, the bike giveaway could have been in jeopardy due to the death of Cooks, who passed away in June after a motorcycle accident. He was 49.
His family was determined not to let Cook's legacy go with him.
"Alex started this foundation 16 years ago and it was something that was near and dear to his heart," said his widow Amy Cooks. "And that is something we're not going to let go just because he's not with us."
The Cooks family, which owns Alex's Southern Style BBQ in Carrollwood, annually gives away hundreds of bicycles during its Xmas for Kids event.
Alex, himself, told Bay News 9 in a past interview that as one of 10 kids growing up he never had the experience of waking up on Christmas morning and receiving a shiny new bike. He vowed to make that happen for as many children as possible.
The foundation is expected to give away all 515 bikes today in the parking lot of the Walmart store on Gunn Highway in Tampa, pushing its total of bicycles given away past 20,000. And come Dec. 26, the foundation will began collecting bikes to give away next year.
"We knew how passionate he (Alex) was about the foundation and the kids," said family friend Elizabeth Brennan. "It’s good for the children and it’s something that we’re not ready to let go and I know he would want us to continue to the best of our ability to do it and that’s what we’re going to do.
"We’re going to continue his legacy."