Camille Kostek Steals The Show Riding Bikes In Heels For A Great Cause

Camille Kostek brought a whole lot of heart back to Boston this holiday season, teaming up with Raising Cane’s to deliver a memorable afternoon for local kids. On Monday, December 22, the model, TV host, and former New England Patriots cheerleader partnered with the chicken finger brand to gift 100 Raising Cane’s bikes and helmets to kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Boston. The event was part of Cane’s sixth annual holiday bike giveaway, a tradition inspired by founder Todd Graves’ own childhood memory of receiving a bike on Christmas morning. Now bigger than ever, Raising Cane’s is rolling out more than 4,000 bikes and helmets nationwide this holiday season after gifting 2,500 bikes last year, and Boston was one of the stops filled with the loudest cheers. Adding to the excitement, New England Patriots running back D’Ernest Johnson also made a surprise appearance, helping hand out bikes and helmets and joining Camille Kostek in celebrating the kids, a moment that made the afternoon even more special for attendees.

Speaking to The Blast by phone during the event, Kostek said the decision to participate was instant. “Oh my gosh. I mean, this was so fun. It was a no-brainer, no hesitation as soon as the Cane’s team reached out,” she told The Blast exclusively. “This one was really special, especially around the holidays. I just flew in this morning, and I couldn’t miss it.”

Kostek, who grew up in New England and remains deeply connected to the Boston community, said the bike giveaway struck a personal chord, especially as the oldest sibling in her family. “I’m a big sister. I have two little sisters and a brother. When I heard they were giving away bikes for the holidays, I will never forget my first bike,” she shared. “I remember what I was wearing, what the weather was like. It brought back so many memories.”

She added that the feeling of riding a bike for the first time mirrors moments she still experiences as an adult. “There are so many things I do in my life now where I relate back to that first bike. It’s scary, exciting, and all about being present in the moment, and that’s what today is all about,” the model admitted.

In addition to his surprise appearance at the event, New England Patriots running back D’Ernest Johnson also spoke with The Blast by phone about what the Raising Cane’s bike giveaway meant to him personally.

For Johnson, the opportunity to give back during the holidays was an easy yes. “I’m just happy to be a part of it,” he said, explaining how special it felt to join Raising Cane’s in supporting kids in the community. “To come out and give back, you know, hundreds of bikes for the kids. I think it’s special, everything they have going on.”

As a professional athlete, Johnson acknowledged the responsibility that comes with being someone kids naturally look up to, saying moments like this go far beyond football. “Just like a role model,” he shared. “Giving kids hope that they can do anything they want to do and be anything they want to be in life, as long as they work hard and believe. Being able to leave here and show face, talk to them, it means a lot. I know it means a lot to them.”

When asked about his own holiday traditions, Johnson said giving back has long been at the center of how he celebrates the season. “I’ve been having a turkey drive every year back in my hometown,” he said. “Every year, it’s about giving back to the community. That’s my biggest thing. Giving back just feels so freeing and full of love.”

From fitting helmets to picking out bikes, Kostek jumped right into the action, even hopping on a bike herself. “I fell off one of the bikes already,” she laughed. “And I wore high heels to the event. Some of the girls asked how I was going to ride a bike in heels, and I said, ‘Girls can do anything.’ They snapped and said, ‘That’s right.’”

She described kids lining up behind her in a makeshift “bike train,” a moment that left her covered in goosebumps. “I can’t remember the last time I had a feeling like that,” she said. “Just laughing, riding around, being present. That’s what this is about.”

Kostek’s partnership with Raising Cane’s has grown steadily this year. It began at the Super Bowl LIX Parade in New Orleans, where she rode alongside Graves, Emeril Lagasse, Jeff Hamilton, and Kaylee Hartung, and continued at New York Fashion Week, where she modeled a custom couture dress for the brand.

Being back in Boston, though, carried extra meaning. “As soon as I walked in, you could feel that sense of community,” she said. “The Boys & Girls Club is all about giving kids a space to dream big, grow, and learn. I love immersing myself in the Boston community. I landed and came straight here. I couldn’t ask for a better Monday.”