What do muffins, bicycles, and service have in common?  Well, for the St. Ann community in Nashville, they all go hand in hand.

Twice a year, the school club called  Bakers for Bikes holds a baking marathon in the cafeteria kitchen.  Students bake and package approximately 300 muffins to sell to St. Ann families. Then they donate the funds raised to an organization that modifies bicycles for special needs children. Finally, they present the bike to the child during an all-school ceremony.

We first learned about the organization when St. Ann parent and pediatric occupational therapist Tom Robertson called us to purchase a set of FATWHEELS for a recipient.  Robertson’s daughter Ella Grace first planted the seed for the service project three years ago when she approached her fourth-grade teacher with the idea.

Robertson, who has helped connect deserving families with St. Ann through his work at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the bikes can be a great gift to children in need. In many instances, children with special needs and physical limitations are less physically active than they need to be, he said. “Having a bike can be more motivation to get outside and exercise,” he said. “It also opens up the kids a lot more for socialization opportunities.”

WE couldn’t agree more and we are SO encouraged by the efforts of these amazing students and the adults who are supporting their vision, that we are pledging to support next year’s event!

Until next time,

Colleen