(Posted April 19, 2004)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Tricycles will be pedaled by preschoolers in what might be described as a toddler Tour de Trike at Juniata College's Early Childhood Education Center, for a trike-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital April 21 and 22 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 2:45 to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, and from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, April 22.

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. Friday, April 23 and from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m., Monday, April 26, and from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 27. "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. Mondays through Thursdays. There is a toddler class from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 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.

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