Trike-A-Thon Raises Money for St. Jude's Hospital

When it’s time for Holy Family Children’s Center’s Trike-A-Thon, passersby will know.

Tricycles and bicycles of every color and style - helmets dangling from their handlebars - line the walkway to the preschool’s front entrance off Highway 1 south of Main Street.

The outdoor play area is sectioned off with cones and kid-sized traffic signs, creating a circular track ready for a gaggle of preschool-aged children, eager and excited, to ride their bikes around and around the loop.

Parents and teachers congregate on the perimeter with their cameras ready to snap pictures, cheering for the children who ride as many laps as they can around the ring, all with a common goal in mind: to raise money that will help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital find new treatments for childhood cancer and other diseases.

Now in its sixth year, the Holy Family Children’s Center’s (HFCC) Trike-A-Thon takes place today and tomorrow, offering preschoolers hands-on learning about bike safety and the opportunity to raise funds that will help St. Jude treat sick children all over the world afflicted by cancer, AIDS, sickle cell and other catastrophic diseases.

A total of 54 children will ride in age-based groups over the two-day period, with younger kids going first and older kids following. Parent volunteers and HFCC teachers mark rider laps on a piece of paper taped to the back of each child, recording the number of times they make it around the track. Donations collected from friends, family, and co-workers who sponsor the participating children are turned in before and after the event.

Over the past five years, HFCC has raised $12,000 for St. Jude by hosting Trike-A-Thon. This year, they hope to add another $2,000 to the total.

Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has treated patients from all 50 states and more than 70 foreign countries. HFCC’s participation supports St. Jude’s mission to find cures and save children. At St. Jude, no family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. Because of fundraising efforts such as the Trike-A-Thon, St. Jude is able to pay for transportation for their patients and their families, and give them a place to live while they are at St. Jude.

The children participating in the fundraising efforts learn valuable lessons along the way.

“This event teachers the children about empathy and compassion and helping others,” said Caren Burgess, director of HFCC. “With the Trike-A-Thon, we are able to instill in the children that no matter how old you are, you can help others, especially other children that are sick. It’s very empowering for them to ride their bikes knowing they are helping other children.”

The event also teaches children about the value of bringing a community together for a common cause, as well as the power a group of people can have through volunteerism. In the week leading up to the event, children are taught bike safety issues such as the need to always wear a helmet, to never ride in the street, and to watch where you are going.

As the Trike-A-Thon begins, children saddle onto their bikes and helmets are snapped into place.  Often, lined up ready to ride, there are tears and bouts of frustration as some of the children struggle with their bikes, and with their varying riding skills.  But for the most, said Burgess, the children are excited and proud, especially “when they cheer each other on, calling out names with encouragement, and make it around the track on their own.  That’s a highlight for me,” she said.

This year, HFCC participants and their families have the option of creating a Web page for their child to make fundraising donations easier for sponsors. The web sites also allow friends and family to make credit card donations.

HFCC parent Kate Handel is this year’s coordinator of the event. Her 4-year-old daughter Natalie has already raised $100 through their Web page, which includes a personalized message from her daughter: “I'm riding my bike to help sick kids get better. Please help me and my preschool raise money for St. Jude's. Love and thanks from Natalie!”

For Handel, the annual Trike-A-Thon event is more than just a lot of fun; it also “teaches kids about volunteering and helping other kids who are sick, raising money for St. Jude's Children’s Hospital,” she said. “It also encourages kids to get good exercise outside, celebrating their health and abilities.”

To make a donation to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and support the Holy Family Children's Center Trike-A-Thon event, click here.