Bike Safety Rodeo and Helmet Give Away
May 4, 2019 – Butler Intermediate School- Local children and their families came out for the 6th annual QISD Bikes and Books Safety Rodeo and Helmet Give-Away. The event, held at Butler Intermediate School, Saturday, May 4, 2019, featured a bicycle safety course, where children learned the importance of avoiding hazards, obeying stop signs, yielding to traffic and being aware of their surroundings when riding their bikes. All children visited a helmet fitting station where they were fitted with a free safety helmet, as well as a bike safety check station where volunteers inspected bikes to make sure they were in safe condition. Participants were treated to a tour of a fire truck and the AirEvac 67 Helicopter, coordinated by Cindy Hichcock of Hunt County EMS and Quinlan VFD. There was also a visit from McGruff the Crime Dog, sponsored by the Quinlan PD. Children were also able to pick out a free, age-appropriate book related to bikes, donated by Altrusa International of Greenville.
Approximately, 40 children completed the safety course and were entered into a drawing for new bicycles donated by, Mike and Donna Roberts, Cannon Elementary, Jo Hughes, Billie Miller, Kathy Harber, Colleen McDonald, Frances Dalbey, and Altrusa International of Greenville.
"We were so pleased with the turnout at this year's event," said Kathleen Witte, QISD Director of Family and Community Engagement. “Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveal that helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent. QISD is committed to the health and safety of our students and our community. If this event influenced even one person to wear a helmet and to ride more safely, it was worth the time and effort.”
"This great event would not be possible without the support of all our sponsors and volunteers," said Witte. "This was our sixth year and the event has gotten bigger and better thanks to all of the community support from groups like Altrusa International of Greenville, Dr. Lay of Baylor Scott & White Health, Parkland Community Health Plan, Hunt County EMS, Quinlan VFD, Quinlan PD, the FHS HOSA student organization, and the QISD Maintenance and Food Service Departments. The free helmet give-away was made possible through a partnership with QISD, Altrusa, and the Hard Hats for Little Heads grant from the Texas Medical Association Foundation. Hard Hats for Little Heads is supported in 2019 with a TMA Foundation grant thanks to its Legacy of Caring and General Endowments, and generous gifts from an anonymous physician and spouse and donors to TMAF’s Make-A-Difference and Greatest Need appeals. Thank you to our volunteers, Kathy Harber, Dr. Sarah Lay, Tim Witte, Courtney and Paul Painter, Briana and Chad Tiffee, Jennifer Pettus, Sarah Jackson, Angela Miskell, Rita Green, Hunt County EMS Paramedics, Toni Douthit, Dennis Sabella, Gary Joe Northcutt, HOSA Sponsor James Shoemake, HOSA students: Jane Lin, Lynne Adair, Anahi Landaverde, Arianna Sitzlow, Brianna Lira, Makayla Walters, Saray Villa, Cynthia Munoz, Anay Reyes, and Altusans: Misty Little, Stacy Earls, Frances Dalbey, Vonda Jack, Angela Franklin, and Maria Villanueva.
