The students of First Baptist Academy zoomed around the parking lot of the Welcome Center last week to raise money for the parochial school’s library and playground as part of the Academy’s first bikathon.

“We were planning a fun fair day, but hadn’t had a big fundraiser all year,” said Principal Julie Harpe. “It was our first try for a fundraiser like this, and all the parents just loved it.”

The 32 preschoolers on their tricycles and the 35 elementary school children on their bikes rode laps on a track set up behind the school. Every time they came around to the starting point, volunteers put a tally mark on their armbands.
Before the event, the children asked friends and family to sponsor them. The amounts varied—from 25 cents a lap to a dollar or more. Harpe said a couple of students did 34 laps. The fundraiser brought in $3,500.

Teachers, parents and children all had fun, Harpe said. Some of the teachers took “a lap or two, supporting the school and getting into the spirit of things.”

The bikathon/trikathon was so successful, Harpe said, the school plans to make it an annual event.

“We had a picnic afterwards, an end of the year celebration with a purpose,” said Harpe.