BRATTLEBORO — The Neighborhood Schoolhouse's sixth annual Bikeathon (May 10-13), is a 200-mile biking adventure that begins in East Franklin (near the Canadian border) and finishes in Jamaica.
It is a major fundraiser to support scholarship opportunities and extracurricular programs for kids ages 3 to 12. Fifty-four percent of families depend on the scholarship fund each year to send their children to Neighborhood Schoolhouse, an independent and progressive preschool, kindergarten and elementary school. Through its integrated curriculum, students are taught to think critically, solve problems creatively, and seek positive roles in their communities.
Leading up to the Bikeathon, Neighborhood Schoolhouse held its annual Bike Week for students. Each day featured an activity related to biking, including a slide show presentation of unusual and historic bikes, a demonstration of different bikes from tricycle to BMX bikes, bike safety and repair, and a bring-your-bike-to-school-day.
Driven to share the school's mission and curriculum with the greater Brattleboro community, long-time staff member Dot MacDonald started the bikeathon in 2007 to inspire people to reach their full potential while raising money for a great cause.
Since the start, the Bikeathon has been a successful event each and every year. Both novice and avid bikers reach their personal training goals and complete this 3-day bike ride to support NSH's scholarship program and extracurricular activities.
To support the riders by making a tax deductable donation, send a check to The Neighborhood Schoolhouse, P.O. Box 119, Brattleboro, VT 05302, and write in the memo line “2012 Bikeathon.”