Students across Lambton-Kent will be able to ride their new bikes during the warm weather thanks to a fundraiser.
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) recently organized the second annual board-wide fundraiser within the St. Clair Catholic District School Board. The Dress Down for Wheels event saw staff donate money in order to dress casually.
More than $7,000 was raised and used to purchase 40 bicycles, helmets, and bicycle locks for students across the system.
President of OECTA Secondary, St. Clair Unit, Chad Coene said that the fundraiser was launched last year in response to the pandemic and in an effort to encourage fitness and wellbeing among youth.
"We didn't really see it as more than a one-time event but it went so well last year," he said.
Elando (left) and Elonzo Rhoden of Wallaceburg are pictured with dad Elton Rhoden and their brand new bikes! May 2022. (Photo courtesy of the St. Clair Catholic District School Board)
Coene said the student recipients were selected on certain factors and others were chosen randomly.
"Basically we were looking for some combination of students who could really use a bicycle or had shown something really positive or contributed to the school in a very positive way," said Coene. "Or in some cases, if the school community decided they wanted to do a straight-up raffle, they did it that way as well."
The bikes were delivered to students on Tuesday. Coene said they travelled to areas such as Chatham, Tilbury, Sarnia, and Forest in order to meet the deserving students.
"It was really heartwarming and the smiles just brought so much joy! I hope that the positivity continues on for the people that helped make that happen," Coene said. "We just feel tremendous pride for what we were able to do as a school and an education community."
Coene said the initiative was really a "team effort" and it may become an annual event.
"Maybe we are certainly already looking at next year and we could possibly eclipse the 100 mark for bicycles distributed in our community," he said.
