Wear the Gear Program yields winners

Back row:  Hailey McLeod, Kate Feist, Sgt. Randy Dixon
Middle row: Megan Sundberg Tegan Prout Front Eddie Mitchell
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas

There was a crowd outside of the Pincher Creek Fire Hall on Monday, June 23. They had been called because they were winners in the Wear the Gear program.  Winners won bicycles, helmets, and other goodies for being 'safe cyclists' or artists in Pincher Creek. The program ran from May 19 until June 18, during which time Pincher Creek Emergency Services, Bylaw Services and RCMP members gave out tickets to kids that were wearing safety gear while riding any self propelled equipment with wheels, most notably bicycles. Winners of the random draws included Cheyenne Klein Hans-Kaupp and Eddie Mitchell for their helmet coloring contest designs, while Tegan Prout and Hailey McLeod won bicycles after being ticketed for safe cycling.

Kate Feist with Megan Sundberg and her prizes

Organizer EMT Kate Feist said that the last bike that was awarded was originally won by Megan Sundberg "Who very kindly, because she has a brand new bike decided to donate the bike back." Sundberg presented a new bike to kindergarten student Tegan Prout, who won in the re-drawing. After the last scheduled prize was given out Feist said, "We have one more prize to give out. This one is for Megan, for donating your bike. That was very, very nice of you."

"My dad really influenced me," said Sundberg. "He talked about all the kids that scrounged up helmets that don't fit them, or bikes bikes that are too big or too small just so they have a chance to ride a bike.  And I have a brand new bike. So I thought I might as well give it away to someone else that doesn't have a bike."

EMT Kate Feist and Sgt. Randy Dixon with bike winner Hailey McLeod

Hailey McLeod was happy because the decals on her bike was in her favorite colour, purple. "It's perfect, I'm happy," she said.

Megan Sundberg, EMT Kate Feist, Sgt. Randy Dixon with bike winner Tegan Prout

Cheyenne Klein Hans-Kaupp won a helmet full of goodies
 for her helmet colouring contest entry

Eddie Mitchell won a helmet filled with goodies

Megan was very happy with her bike

Feist put in a lot of work to make this a big success. She was very happy with the way the program went this year but has already started planning improvements. "We plan on doing a whole week next year, for Bicycle Safety Awareness Week," she said. She is already planning a bike rodeo, safety program, and helmet checks. During that week they are hoping to go to the schools and run awareness programs. "I think that the community interaction is important." She said that it was good to have the different agencies in uniform be visible and approachable to the young public. As for the success of the program, she said "It really seems to me that there are more kids wearing their helmets."

Artwork done by Eddie Mitchell, grade 1