Preschoolers show ‘service before self’ at Trike-A-Thon

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Barksdale Child Development Center West hosted its annual Trike-A-Thon for preschoolers and their sponsors April 25.

The Trike-A-Thon is a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and allows parents and sponsors to donate money for a child's participation in the event.

Participating children receive various prizes depending on the amount of money raised such as T-shirts, toys and umbrellas. During the event, preschoolers will rode tricycles around an outdoor track in support of children who are unable to go outdoors with riding toys.

"The CDC has had a Trike-A-Thon every year since 1995," said Delbrah Devine, program technician at the CDC. "It's a good way for children to learn about helping other children who are sick."

Donations to St. Jude provide more than 70 percent of the hospital funding, and the young tricycle riders are effectively helping St. Jude render medical care to children with cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

With support from the Barksdale community and other friends and family members, the Trike-A-Thon has managed to raise an average of $1,500 annually.

Not only does the money benefit children who are ill, but the preschoolers at the CDC are learning valuable lessons about safety and helping others.

"Only the preschoolers take part in this event since they're old enough to ride a tricycle," said Devine. "But we're teaching them not just that they're helping ill children but about how to ride a tricycle safely."

While parents of the preschoolers serve in the U.S. Air Force, their children serve other children in need by tricycling to raise funds for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Information in this article is provided by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.