2019 Helmets on Kids Kick-off Event
On June 20, 2019, the annual Helmets on Kids Kick-off Event will take place at Riverside Public School in London, Ontario. At that time, students at Riverside Public School will attend a school assembly, where they will hear from various guest speakers about the importance of always wearing a helmet when bicycling, watch an educational video about brain injuries, touch a human brain (made of Jell-o), and participate in a bicycle rodeo directed and overseen by officers of the London Police Service. Following the event, members of the Helmets on Kids Committee will deliver approximately 900 helmets throughout London and the surrounding area to children who may not be able to acquire one otherwise. Helmets are distributed through the Thames Valley District School Board, the London District Catholic School Board, the Brain Injury Association, Children’s Safety Village, Big Bike Giveaway, and London Health Sciences Centre.
By way of brief background, 17 years ago, London members of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and the Brain Injury Association of London & Region partnered together to educate our community and raise awareness of safe cycling practices. I have had the pleasure of chairing the Helmets on Kids Committee over the past 5 years. The goal of the Committee has always been twofold: to donate bicycle helmets to children in need and to promote education and awareness on proper helmet use. The Committee is comprised of numerous community partners, including London members of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, the Brain Injury Association of London & Region, the Middlesex-London Health Unit, Stride Rehabilitation Services, London Police Service, Middlesex-London EMS, London Health Sciences Centre, the London District Catholic School Board, the Thames Valley District School Board and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. Through the Committee’s joint effort and passion, we have been able to distribute over 4500 helmets to children in need over the past 5 years, and over 20,000 helmets since the Committee’s inception in 2002.