Nearly 500 bicycle helmets have been given out to Washington preschool through fifth grade students as part of a RAGBRAI project.

Following the cycling event in Washington in 2016 some of the funds generated were used to purchase 451 helmets and Washington County Public Health added in 41 for distribution. Jane Davis, who helped organize the project, thanks all of the community who volunteered during RAGBRAI, “Those who did participate need to know that their generosity that they offered with their time and energy was wonderful in order to help projects like this happen in Washington. The distribution of the helmets was a direct result from all of the thousands of hours of volunteer time that was given. With each helmet a note was given so that the parents and families would know that being given the free helmet was a direct result of people in the community so generously offering their time and energy to make RAGBRAI Washington 2016 happen.”

The helmets were given to students at Stewart, Lincoln, St. James, and the Washington home school program. The last of the helmets were given out last month at Kidzfest. Davis recommends that other towns that host RAGBRAI in the future do similar projects to increase safety in the community.