Third Annual Bikes for Kids Utah Event Deemed A Great Success

Fundraising rides and sponsorship provided brand new bicycles, helmets, locks and bicycle safety instruction to 1,000 underprivileged Utah children

Salt Lake City, UT - During a sunny spring day last weekend, Bikes for Kids Utah provided 1,000 underprivileged Utah third graders free brand new bicycles, helmets, bike locks and bicycle safety instruction at its third annual charity event.

Saturday's event also included 3K, 50K and 100K fundraising rides in which close to 120 riders helped provide funds for the bicycle giveaway.

"This year's Bikes for Kids event was the best yet," said Debbie Reid, founder and executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah. "The weather was perfect and we had great support from the community, sponsors, volunteers and the cyclists. The best part of the event was seeing all the kids so excited about getting a bike. Their smiles made it a perfect day."

Throughout the event, held in the parking lot of the Intermountain Medical Center located in Murray, hundreds of Utah third-graders were greeted by more than 125 volunteers (more than double the number of volunteers compared to last year) who helped distribute bikes and accessories.

In a festival like atmosphere, students and their families walked from tent to tent collecting bicycle accessories, were fitted for helmets, and participated in a bicycle safety rodeo.

"It was a lot of fun," said Adam Hurst, a third grader from Plymouth Elementary School. "I can't wait to get home and ride my new bike. Thanks Bikes for Kids."

(Adam was the honorary wearer of the first ever Bikes for Kids Utah KidCam. The KidCam is a helmet mounted video camera, provided by GoPro, which captured what it was like to attend the event from the eyes of a child. To see the KidCam video click here.)

Every half hour one of the 14 pre-qualified third grade elementary classes was welcomed at the event's stage. Kids were asked fun educational questions and those who answered correctly were given a free bicycle pump provided by SKS-Germany before going to the registration tent.

Also during the event, Canyon Cyclery provided a BMX freestyle show, local sports radio station 1280 The Zone handed out stickers, small footballs and pens to the children, and Utah Grizzlies hockey team mascot Grizzbee signed autographs and teased kids by pretending to carry away their boxed bike.

During the fundraising rides, cyclists were provided with a number of rest stops, which included Utah Food Service's Belgium Breakfast, Black Bottom's Watering Hole, La Caille's Brunch in France, Murray Rotary Club's Snack by the Zoo and Tucci's Finish Line Italiana Lunch. One of the cyclists who participated in the 100k ride was five-time Olympic Gold medalist at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, Eric Heiden.

The next Bikes for Kids fundraising event will be a dinner auction at La Caille to be held the evening of Wednesday, September 17, 2008 followed by the Bikes For Kids Utah Red and Blue Time Trial on Saturday, September 20. The Red and Blue Time Trial is a continuation of last year's Bikes for Kids Utah/Dave Zabriskie Yield to Life Time Trial. More information about the auction and time trial will be provided soon.

The Bikes for Kids Utah event is made possible through multiple individual and corporate sponsors who provide time, product and funds. Besides the cyclist who provided leg power, other sponsors of this year's event included:

$40,000 Sponsor:
The Sorenson Legacy Foundation

Title sponsors:
Alder Construction, Costco, Intermountain Financial and Mass Mutual.

Platinum sponsors:
Aquafina, Murray City Power, Murray Rotary, SOAR Communications, SoBe Life Water, Utah Blaze and Utah Grizzlies.

Gold Sponsors:
BlackBottoms Cycle Wear, La Caille, Red Letter Days, Tucci's Cucina Italiana and Utah Food Services.

Silver Sponsors:
Canyon Cyclery, Cottonwood Cyclery, Deseret News, Intermountain Healthcare, Healing for Life, J.R. Smith Coaching, Select Health, The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) and Wasatch Women's Cycling Club.

Bronze Sponsors:
A-Core Inc., Magnuson Metals, MediaOne, Regan Outdoor Advertising, Skyline Electric Company, The John & Company, WorkflowOne and 1280 The Zone.

For more information about Bikes for Kids Utah, please visit www.bikesforkidsutah.org. (More video and pictures will be added soon.)