Childcare Trike-A-Thon to Raise Funds for St. Jude's

For Release - September 16, 2009

The Childcare Department of UNM-Gallup will host a Trike-A-Thon on October 7 and 8 at the Childcare Center on the UNMG Campus. Funds raised by the Trike-A-Thon will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which specializes in finding cures for and saving children from cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

Trike-A-Thon is a fun, weeklong curriculum and fund-raising program for daycare centers or pre-schools that teaches children riding toy safety lessons through a series of interactive stories. Participating children receive the lessons from special St. Jude characters such as Bikewell Bear and Pedals the Bunny. At the end of the Trike-A-Thon experience, students bring their trikes or riding toys to school and practice the safety lessons they have learned.

Parents are asked to sponsor their children by either donating a certain amount per lap or else pledge a flat donation amount for the child to participate. Parents also help collect donations from sponsors such as family members and friends and turn them into the school coordinator.

Faculty and staff at UNM-Gallup will also be asked to make a small donation to the cause. In addition, the public is welcome to attend the Trike-A-Thon and make a donation.

The event will be held at 3-4:30 p.m. both days on the patio behind Gurley Hall. Call Jodi Barnhart, Childcare Department manager, at 863-7631 for more information.