A former Calgarian and her husband are on a mission to send bikes to Canada’s far north to give children there a chance to feel the freedom of riding in their remote communities.

Young people in the small community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut are discovering the joys of riding a bike and for some it's their first time on a set of wheels.

Ali Harper and her RCMP officer husband Tim were recently transferred to the area from Calgary and noticed a need for bicycles.

The couple started the Polar Bike Project to give the kids a fun way to stay busy and out of trouble.

“When we were small kids, the simple joys of riding a bike, and you don't realize that, you take it for granted,” said Harper.

It’s a small community of about 1400 residents and there’s nowhere to buy or even service a bicycle.

Harper started a crowdfunding campaign to change that and help children there experience the joys of cycling this summer.

She has already raised several thousand dollars.

“When they get bored they get into mischief, whether it be vandalism, whatever it may be, so at least the biking gives them something to stimulate them, keep them active,” said Harper.

Harper called on her friend Ron Uhlenberg, who owns a store in Calgary, to help find bikes to bring up north.

Uhlenberg has already sent 10 bikes with the help of local carrier, Buffalo Airways, and he hopes to send dozens more by early July.

“She said it was exciting, there was tears, the kids were just over the moon with it so it seems to making a big difference for them,” said Uhlenberg

The goal of the Polar Bike Project is to outfit every kid in the community with one of the gently used bikes and to encourage them to create their own bike culture.

“If I could be paid in the smiles, it’s just amazing, these kids, it’s something they can be a part of and it's a group they belong to,” said Harper.

The Polar Bike Project is still accepting donations as well as gently used bikes.

For more info on how to donate bikes contact ron@ridleys.com and for more info on the Polar Bike Project crowdfunding campaign, click HERE.

(With files from Amanda Singroy)