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Preschool students bike for a cause
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The students of Union Preschool had their eyes on the prize on May 4, when they pedaled for St. Jude Children's Hospital during their annual Trike-a-Thon.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The Union Preschool boys who participated in the May 4 Trike-a-Thon took a breather from their biking give a "hooray" for the project that benefits St. Jude Children's Hospital.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Union Preschool girls waved hello from their bicycles, tricycles, and scooters during a break in their hour-long Trike-a-Thon for St. Jude's on May 4.
By SARAH FOOR
The students at Union Preschool put their pedals to the metal during their annual Trike-a-Thon for St. Jude Children’s Hospital on May 4.
That morning, the students suited up in their safety gear and helmets to jump on their tricycles, bicycles, scooters and big wheels to take laps around their playground to raise money for St. Jude through pledges. Parents and friends also visited the Trike-a-Thon to support the cycling students.
Preschool teacher Joy Bucci said the event teaches her students many lessons.
“We focus on the teaching the kids about the importance of giving back and the good they are doing today. However, we also learn a lot about having fun and a great basis of bicycle safety that will serve them well in the years ahead,” she explained.
A participation pack provided by St. Jude provides videos that showed the preschoolers some of the brave patients at St. Jude and some of the techniques tested and perfected at the research hospital.
Another video introduced the students to Bikewell Bear, who taught them about bicycle safety like always wearing a helmet, never riding in the street, being careful near driveways, and always watching where you are going.
As the preschool students circled cones in their playground for about 40 minutes, Bucci had gratitude for all involved in the Trike-a-Thon project.
“Today we have a beautiful day, enthusiastic student cyclists, and supportive parents who helped bring out the trikes and cheer their students on. We’re doing good for the children at St. Jude’s and having fun here at Union preschool as well, so we can’t ask for anything more,” she added.