(Posted April 1, 2003)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Tricycles will be pedaled by preschoolers in sort of a toddler Tour de France at Juniata College's Early Childhood Education Center, in a test their endurance in a trike-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital April 10 and 11 on the campus of Juniata College.

The children will be riding their tricycles at the outdoor basketball court between Ellis College Center and the football stadium parking lot from 11 to 11:30 a.m. and from 3 to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10, and from 3 to 3:30 p.m., Friday, April 11.

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 from 3 to 3:30 p.m., Monday, April 15, and from 3 to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 16. "We're using the trike-a-thon to raise the children's awareness of traffic safety rules," 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 open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thurusdays, there is a toddler class from 9 to 11 a.m., and a preschool program from 1 to 3:30 p.m. For enrollment or any other information about the center, please call (814) 641-3401.

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

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