Lacie Lowry, News On 6
TULSA, Oklahoma -- Some Tulsa middle schoolers want to put the brakes on cancer.
They organized a fundraiser called "Bike for a Life" to raise money for a local pediatric oncology unit and they pedaled their way to nearly $7,000 today.
Eight Union Middle School students orchestrated this city-wide bike ride.
"We were thinking about selling stuff or something, but then I was riding my bike and I was like, 'hey, why don't we do like a bike ride?'" said student organizer Freddy Vega.
The students are part of the Global Gardens program, which teaches students how to create community gardens and learn healthier lifestyles.
The ride was 15 miles, starting at Rosa Parks Elementary, which is one of the sites of the Global Gardens program.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so impressed with them. I've learned so much with them, I had no idea how to do any of that and I just think it's absolutely amazing," said Annie Ferris, Global Gardens Teacher.
The students chose to pedal for pediatric cancer care.
"You hear day after day, this person has cancer, this person has cancer. It's a really big cause that everyone is donating to, but this is overall just for children because we are children," said Casey Johnson, Student Organizer.
They were amazed at how many people showed up.
"We finally got closer and closer and I was like, 'oh my gosh, we have all these big sponsors and we're going to raise like $10,000,' it was really exciting," Johnson said.
Nearly 100 riders participated in Bike For A Life, streaming through the streets of Tulsa. Many had personal reasons for pedaling.
"My second cousin had cancer, but he got better and he's only like 7 or 8 years old," Vega said.
The ride ended here at Eugene Field Elementary School with a big celebration. They chose this site because it also has a global gardens program.
Sixty percent of the money the kids raised will go to the Pediatric Oncology Clinic at the Children's Hospital at St. Francis. The rest goes back into the global gardens program at the kids' school.
Eight Union Middle School students orchestrated this city-wide bike ride.
The ride was 15 miles, starting at Rosa Parks Elementary, which is one of the sites of the Global Gardens program.
The students chose to pedal for pediatric cancer care.
