Bikes donated to several local elementary schools

Students at several Jefferson County schools are now learning how to ride bicycles in their physical education classes, thanks to donations from a local nonprofit organization.

So far, two elementary schools in the Northwest R-1 School District – Cedar Springs in House Springs and Maple Grove in Dittmer – have received a donation of balance bikes, which can have pedals added later.

Crystal City Elementary and Our Lady Catholic School in Festus each received some of the bikes, too. Helmets also were donated to the four schools.

The donations came from Living Life on 2 Wheels, a nonprofit organization started by Rene and Chris Creed, who own the Pedal’n Pi bike and pizza shop in Crystal City. The organization collected funding for the bikes, purchased them and are delivering the bikes to the schools.

In addition, All Kids Bike, which is part of the Strider foundation, is providing the framework for the bike program at the schools, as well as training for teachers.

“Even though we’ve only brought the program to the three or four schools, we already have a list of schools that are interested in getting the program and are going to be getting (bikes) in the next three months,” Rene said.

Sarah Darlington, program director for Living Life on 2 Wheels, said Festus Elementary is expected to receive a donation of bikes this week.

Darlington said other schools will receive a bike donation soon, including Clyde Hamrick, Meramec Heights and Rockport Heights elementary schools in the Fox C-6 School District; Windsor and Freer elementary schools in the Windsor C-1 School District; Vineland and Athena elementary schools in the De Soto School District; Plattin Primary in the Jefferson R-7 School District; Sunrise Elementary School; Grandview Elementary School; Pevely Elementary School; Good Shepherd Catholic School in Hillsboro; and St. John’s Lutheran School in Arnold.

“The goal is actually to get (the program) in every school in America,” Chris said. “We’re just starting with our own backyard with Jefferson County.”

Darlington said Living Life on 2 Wheels had bought 375 bikes for schools as of Monday and planned to buy more.

She said it takes about $5,000 to purchase 24 children’s bikes, 24 sets of pedals, 24 helmets and one bike and helmet for the teacher. In addition, a rack to store all the bikes and helmets also was donated to the school.

Living Life on 2 Wheels received funding to buy the bikes from Home Service Oil, Enterprise Bank and Express Mart, as well as a $10,000 Jefferson Foundation grant, Rene said.

So far, the groups have raised $75,000 to buy bikes for the schools, she said.

Chris said he hopes the bikes will have a positive impact on many generations.

“Think of how much healthier our communities will be with everybody being active and exercising and living a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

Cedar Springs Principal Cynthia Spurgeon said her school received 25 bikes and helmets on Nov. 22, and the equipment will be used in kindergarten and first-grade P.E. classes.

“This is equipment that we’re going to be able to use for years in P.E,” she said.

Spurgeon said about 50 percent of the kindergartners in her school have never ridden a bike.

“I think back in the day, it was an assumption that every kid had a bike,” she said. “I don’t think in this day and age that’s necessarily true.”

Crystal City Elementary School Principal Shane Gordon said his school received a donation of 25 bikes and helmets on Nov. 17. He said it was fun to watch the students’ reactions when they first saw the new bikes.

“Once (the students) realized the line of bikes was for them, they were super excited,” he said. “This is an opportunity our kids are going to have now that they wouldn’t have otherwise had.”

Gordon said the bikes will be used for the kindergarten class and possibly pre-kindergarten and first grade.

“Not everybody has enough money to buy a bike and everything, and I hate to say this, but not every kid has a parent who wants to go out and work with them on riding bikes,” he said.

Chris said some parents might be too busy to teach their kids how to ride.

“This program takes it out of the parents’ hands and puts it in P.E. class,” he said.

Gordon said teaching students to ride a bike encourages a healthy lifestyle.

“Getting kids outside and active is a huge thing these days, because there’s so many things to keep them inside,” he said.

Rene said another important lesson is overcoming failure.

“Not being able to (ride at first), falling and getting back up,” she said.

Darlington said if anyone would like to donate to the Living Life on 2 Wheels program they may visit

livinglifeon2wheels.com. Anyone interested in starting the program at a school may get more information at creed@livinglifeon2wheels.com.