Montessori students raise money for St. Jude

Many children love to ride bikes, with parents espousing the benefits of exercise and fresh air. But on Oct. 12, the preschoolers of Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy (JBMA) rode for another reason – to celebrate JBMA’s 15th consecutive year of raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Over the years, preschoolers at the school have raised more than $42,000 for St. Jude’s through this annual trike-a-thon.

To prepare for this event, middle school students explained bike safety tips to preschool children throughout the week. Children took home fundraising forms and asked parents to help by bringing bikes and helmets to the school’s outdoor track the morning of the event. When they arrived, middle school students helped unload the bikes and organized them by classes. Then, it was show time.

Class by class, preschoolers pedaled around the track to help raise money for St. Jude. Older students, as they do every year, ran alongside preschoolers or helped them when needed. Seven of the middle school students had ridden in the Trike-a- thon themselves when they were younger.

 “I remember when I was in kindergarten and the older kids pushed me to do my best and stood along the way yelling encouragement,” said eighth grader Thomas Rooney. “I hope JBMA goes on hosting the Trike-a-thon for St. Jude for a long time, and I hope it continues to help others in such a fun way.”