A few Coasters volunteered to display their bikes today as part of Boy Scout troop 726's Blue and Gold Banquet at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton church. Their theme was Cycling Through The Years, 100 Years of Scouting. There were 7 of us there showing 16 bikes. We had a good time and the boys seemed to really enjoy the bikes. Thanks Gina for inviting us and thanks to those who participated.

More photos here.

I received the following e-mail from Gina who organized the banquet...

I can't tell you how many people told me how wonderful it was to see your awesome bikes - I can never thank you enough on behalf of the entire Pack 726 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for making our Blue & Gold Banquet so wonderful and memorable!!

Do you think you have what it takes to earn a Boy Scout Cycling Merit Badge? Click here to see what it takes.

The bicycle X-Change refurbished over 60 used bicycles to be given to kids through Communities In Schools.

In December Communities In Schools provided a Holiday Assistance program for many of our students and their families. With the help of more than 60 local individuals and businesses, an estimated $24,570 in cash and in-kind donations were received and CIS was able to make 54 CIS family’s Christmas brighter.

In addition to the Holiday Assistance, Bicycle X-Change joined with CIS once again in December to provide more than 60 bicycles to local CIS students.

Communities In Schools is dedicated to connecting children and families with existing services and resources to help them successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life. Locally, CIS was established in 1990 and serves elementary, middle, and high schools in the Wichita, Haysville, Derby, Catholic Diocese and Valley Center districts.

For more information, please contact Angie Duntz, PR/Marketing Director at 973-7921 (desk), 708-7159 (cell), or by email, aduntz@ciswichita.org.

The Bikes For Tots campaign gave us this plaque for our 2008 contributions. It was also accompanied with a couple of nice thank you letters from Mr & Mrs Charles Williams (founders of Bikes For Tots) and the Salvation Army. These documents will go in the Coasters scrapbook. Thanks to Dan for picking this up as I never got around to it.

Once again just in time for the holidays, Bicycle X-Change will provide bicycles to more than 60 of Communities In Schools students. On Thursday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m. CIS Site Coordinators will pick up the refurbished bikes from Bicycle X-Change, 908 W. Douglas.

Students who receive the bikes are chosen from CIS sites by the Site Coordinator. These students are selected because of need, good behavior or scholastic achievement.

Communities In Schools is dedicated to connecting children and families with existing services and resources to help them successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life. Locally, CIS was established in 1990 and serves 25 elementary, middle, and high schools in the Wichita, Haysville, Derby, Catholic Diocese and Valley Center districts.

The plan was to ride in the Delano Christmas parade at noon and then the Bikes For Tots parade at 2:00pm. We got word that the BFT parade was postponed until 4:00pm so that gave us time to hang out in Delano after their parade which we did. I think there were 15 or so Coasters who braved the cold to participate with some really nicely decorated bikes.
Later we all met again for the BFT parade only to find out that it was canceled due to problems with the parade permit. So we all just drove to Club DebRicks instead of riding where we celebrated the accomplishments of the Bikes For Tots campaign with beverages and great food like the burgers from the Rolling Smoke bicycle BBQ trailer and all kinds of chili from Club DebRicks. Due to the donations and efforts of all involved over 170 new bikes will be given to area kids this Christmas. The Coasters donating 3 of those bikes after raising a total of $268.
What a great way to spend a Saturday!
Thank yous...
Historic Delano for inviting us to participate in their parade.
Everyone who participated in and/or donated to Bikes For Tots.
Dan for purchasing and delivering our BFT bikes.
Grillmaster Mitch for the burgers.
Club DebRicks for putting on the BFT and the party.
Whomever made al the great chili.

PHOTOS...
Delano Christmas Parade photos.

Bikes For Tots Parade photos.

Robert at River City Cyclist has photos and video here.

Delano parade video...

To celebrate the accomplishments of this year's Bikes For Tots campaign there is a bicycle parade and party on Saturday, December 5th. The parade starts at the Bourbon Street Bar & Grill (formerly Cy’s Place) on Seneca at 2:00 pm. Line up begins at 1:00pm. There will be chili and all the fixings after the parade at the end point of Club DebRicks. Decorate yourself and/or your bike with a Christmas theme.

Don't let the cold weather keep you at home this is a fun event! How often do you get to ride with Santa as your escort while the Wichita PD block traffic?

This is the same routine and route as last year. Here's a map of the route. When it's time to ride back to your vehicle at Bourbon Street I suggest this route where there is continuous sidewalk.