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Preschoolers pedal their way to fundraising goal for St. Jude

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by Geoff Fox

Preschool students from Good Shepherd Preschool were in Widmeyer Park last Thursday morning, May 7, for the 23rd annual St. Jude Trike-a-Thon.

Each year, the preschool raises funds for St. Jude Research Hospital in their journey to curing childhood cancer.

At times, the kids were flying around the “track” having fun on their own or getting an extra hand (or would that be feet?) for some extra speed.

This year, 37 kids were riding their two or three wheeled bikes around marked off ovals the in the parking near the Lions Pavilion

The kids started riding around 9 a.m. with a snack break just before 9:30 a.m.

Good Shepherd Director Jan Weber said the kids would have 20-to-25-minute blocks at each station with a small break for the snacks and lunch.

Students from the Hancock High School and Southern Fulton High School Interact Clubs helped with set up, take down, and clean-up of the trike-a-thon.

As the preschoolers took to their bikes, the high school students acted as a pit crew of sorts as they kept the little kids in the lanes and helped steer the bikes.

If the kids weren’t on their bikes, they would be playing in the bounce houses or playing with the bubbles being blown in the air from the bubbles machine.
photos by Geoff Fox

When a group of riders weren’t on their bikes, they were in the bounce houses jumping around or with the bubble machine and sidewalk chalk.

And of course, there were a few wrecks and wipeouts, but no one was seriously hurt.

The Trike-a-Thon has grown over 23 years, starting out by the Hancock United Methodist Church then moving to the Town Hall parking lot and then to its current location in Widmeyer Park.

Kids from Good Shepherd Preschool were making laps in the parking lot by the Lions Pavilion in Widmeyer Park last Thursday morning, May 7, raising money through donations for St. Jude Research Hospital. The kids raised over $4,800 to be donated to the hospital.

The first couple of years in Widmeyer Park were on the tennis courts, but since the town resurfaced the courts into the basketball and pickleball courts, the event has moved to the parking lot beside the Lions Pavilion.

This year, Weber said as of Thursday morning, online donations were about $2,500 but the majority of the kids were bringing in donations themselves.

On Thursday afternoon, Weber said they had brought in $4,855 donated for St. Jude “right now.”

Students from the Hancock High School and Southern Fulton High School Interact Clubs assisted with the set-up and clean-up of the Trike-a-Thon as well as being a pit crew of sort in helping the kids with their bikes, keeping kids on track, and preventing crashes

While it’s not the highest they’ve had, Weber said it is “definitely close” as they were few times donations have surpassed $5,000.

Overall, in 23 years, Weber said the Trike-a-Thon has brought in $71,767.24, not including this year’s donations.

Weber said the kids could bring their own bikes, but there’s a lesson in that as well.

“We split up the bikes and we rotate, so they’re actually sharing as well,” she said as the kids are letting others check out their bikes.

There were prizes for the preschoolers who brought in the most donations.

Whether it was three wheels or two, bike or scooter, kids from Good Shepherd Preschool were out riding around Widmeyer Park last Thursday morning, May 7, for the St. Jude Trike-a-Thon.

There were two bikes to be given away, backpack sets, and a couple of St. Jude related items.

Weber also said with donations, St. Jude also has a few prizes as well.

After the Trike-a-Thon, the Methodist men who prepare hot dogs each year fed the kids and volunteers.

Weber said Good Shepherd appreciates the Town of Hancock for allowing them to use the parking lot and pavilion in Widmeyer Park for the Trike-a-Thon, as well as the two Interact Clubs for their help.