Book of Dreams

It is a simple joy to feel a cooling breeze as you furiously pedal a bicycle.

Cole Odenweller and Abby Franklin felt that joy as children. Now teenagers, they have outgrown the adaptive bicycles that helped them develop strength in their legs despite her cerebral palsy and his neurodegenerative disorder. A new bike costs between $4,000 and $5,500; it is money their families don't have.

That's where we come in. Cole and Abby are featured in today's Book of Dreams, a series of stories of need in the community that The Bee brings you during the holiday season.

You, our Bee readers, have given generously in years past to fulfill dreams from throughout the community. Last year, donations reached more than $205,000. None of that money is spent on administrative costs.

This year, you will read about dreams that include requests for hearing aids and work uniforms and teddy bears that can be warmed to comfort children with juvenile arthritis.

Thank you for your openhearted support of this community program. We'll tell you Dec. 24 how we fulfilled the dreams.

-- Joyce Terhaar, Executive Editor

To contribute use this online form or print the donation form and mail it to The Sacramento Bee Book of Dreams Fund, 2100 Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. If you have additional questions, please call the Book of Dreams line at 916-556-5667. Donations will be accepted through January 11, 2013.

* To claim a tax deduction for 2012, all donations must be postmarked by December 31, 2012. All contributions are tax-deductible and none of the money received will be spent on administrative costs. Partial contributions are welcome on any item. In cases where more money is received than requested for a given need, the excess will be applied to meeting the unfulfilled needs in this Book of Dreams. Funds donated in excess of needs listed in this book will fulfill wishes received but not published and will be donated to social service agencies benefiting children at risk. The Sacramento Bee has verified the accuracy of the facts in each of these cases and we believe them to be bona fide cases of need. However, The Sacramento Bee makes no claim, implied or otherwise, concerning their validity beyond the statement of these facts.