Fifth Graders Coordinate Charity Bike Race for Kids with Cancer

Three Milnes fifth-graders, driven by a shared desire to help sick children, are raising funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The charitable trio -- Rachel Lekht, Melanie Griffiths and Kamiya Patel -- are planning a bike marathon this fall at with all proceeds going to support cancer research.

"We had an idea that could change kids' lives," said Rachel, 10, during a presentation of their project at last week's council meeting. "It's not impossible to find a cure," Kamiya, 11, chimed in.

Rachel's father, Igor, said the girls had come up with the idea after learning of the mission of St. Jude's and thought that a bike race would be a great way to get other kids involved in supporting a worthy cause.

Igor said the race was still in the design stages, but that it would likely take place some time early in the fall on a closed course at the Memorial Pool parking lot. Kids ages 7 to 18 will be eligible to compete.

In the mean time, the girls are planning several fundraising events leading up to the bike marathon, beginning with the River Regatta on June 9. They also plan to be at the upcoming street fair and fireworks display collecting donations.

"We encourage you to stop by and visit with these young ladies and be generous and donate because they're donating their time and they're doing it for something so wonderful," said Mayor Jeanne Baratta, who has been meeting with the girls for several months to plan their fundraiser and called them very organized, smart and caring.

Igor said the girls had opened a Columbia Bank account under the name, "Fair Lawn Kids for St. Jude's," and a PayPal account under fairlawnkids.forstjudes@gmail.com. 

The two accounts are linked, he said, so any potential donations will end up at the same repository.