(Posted April 7, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- It's not exactly Nascar, but speedy tricycles will be pedaled by preschoolers at Juniata College's Early Childhood Education Center for a trike-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Monday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 15 on the Juniata campus.

The children will be riding their tricycles at the center's playground track from 11 to 11:30 a.m., and 2:30 to 3 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, April 14 and 15.

The children will ride through a course set up with traffic cones and all riders will wear safety helmets. In case of rain or other inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled from 11 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 3 p.m., Thursday, April 17

"We're using the trike-a-thon to raise the children's awareness of traffic safety rules and learning about empathy for others such as children in the hospital with serious diseases," says Sylvia McDowell, co-director of the center.

Members of the community can make donations as the children are riding. Children enrolled at the center also will bring home sponsor forms for friends, relatives and neighbors to sponsor their rides.

The Early Childhood Education Center is a preschool program for children 2 ½ to 5 years old, Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Monday through Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. There is a full-day option available Monday through Thursday. For enrollment or any other information about the center, please call (814) 641-3401. The center now accepts children through the CCIS (Child Care Information Services) subsidized care program. Call (814) 643-4980 for more information.

All donations received during the trike-a-thon will go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. The hospital was founded in 1962 in Memphis, Tenn., as a hospital specializing in treatment of catastrophic diseases.


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.