TR Leger Gananoque Students & Staff Repairing Bikes for Belarus

(Pictured above: TR Leger student Guy DeWolfe (left) assists instructional assistant John Park with a bike refurbishing project.)

(Gananoque) – Students and staff at the TR Leger School of Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education Gananoque Campus are repairing and refurbishing used bikes to send to Belarus in February 2012.

It’s an opportunity to enrich the lives of those affected by the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, said instructional assistant John Park. Every spring, shipping containers are filled with donated items and sent to Belarus. Volunteers distribute essential items such as clothing, kitchen items, blankets, non-perishable food items, and this year – bikes.

“Over the next few months, we will be accepting donations of used bikes and fixing them up to send in February,” Park said. “The bikes can be for children or adults. Children can use them for fun, and for adults it could mean access to a job.”

Park said TR Leger students are welcome to help out with the repairs. If students commit to the project and help out regularly, they will receive a technology credit in return.

“We’d like to have 15 bikes to send to Belarus,” said Park. “So far, we have a few. But, we could definitely use more.”

Park said bikes can be very used, as long as they are functioning with a good frame and drive train.

“We can replace items like pedals, tires and cables,” he said. “Each bike takes about four to five hours to refurbish.”

Park said the project is great for students because it gives them hands-on experience fixing items with their hands.

“Plus, they are helping others,” he said. “They get a good feeling because they know these bikes are going to kids and adults.”

Student Guy DeWolfe said he enjoyed learning about bike repair.

“I learn new things every time I help out, and I like the cause it’s going to,” he said.

Posted: December 22, 2011