Trike-A-Thon set for April 16

The Thermopolis Trike-A-Thon to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be held 10 a.m. - noon April 16 at Hot Springs State Park.

"We are doing this as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is a cancer research hospital for children," Sandy Dittmer, coordinator of the Trike-A-Thon and physical therapist at the Children's Resource Center, said. "The hospital doesn't charge families for any of the care they provide for the kids. The Trike-A-Thon is one way we can raise funds for them."

Dittmer said the Trike-A-Thon is an event for everyone in the family. She said even older children can participate.

"If they have a trike and a helmet, we'd like them to bring them," she said. "If they don't, we have extra trikes."

Kim Black, from the Sheriff's Department, will be at the event fitting children with the correct helmet, Dittmer said.

"She'll be fitting children with the correct helmet and they will get to keep them," she said. "Another really nice thing about this event is that it teaches trike-safety at an early age."

Dittmer said this is the first time the Children's Resource Center has held a Trike-A-Thon in seven years.

"This year we'll be using some cones so children can zigzag through the course," she said. "It'll not only be time to have fun together as a family and community but it's for a great cause."

The Trike-A-Thon is important because all of the money being raised will be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Dittmer said.

"It's for a great cause," she said. "And it also brings the community together."

Some individuals have already registered for the Trike-A-Thon. Others may register through the Children's Resource Center beginning April 11, following Spring Break. For more information, call the Children's Resource Center at 307-864-9227 or visit trikeathon.stjude.org.