Photo courtesy of Kate Wadsworth

By Kate Wadsworth

On Wednesday, June 28, 2017, thirty-one new bikes were given to children in Light of Life Rescue Mission’s program.  Over the course of three weeks, Pittsburgh police officers from the training academy located on Lincoln Avenue held classes for the children about health, safety and well-being, with the last class about bike safety.

After the bike safety class on June 28th, there was a presentation to give each child a bike.  Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich and Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schuber were part of the program and encouraged the children to have a fun and safe summer.  The new bikes were donated by Light of Life sponsors from Bear Dog Bikes and helmets were donated by Children’s Hospital. 

The bikes were assembled by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Bicycle Unit officers, led by Pittsburgh Police Bicycle Unit Sergeant Tom Mignogna.  The bicycle officers led a bike rodeo, which was a course of cones set up in the parking lot which gave the children an opportunity to practice riding their new bikes.  There was a pizza party to end the bike presentation celebration and all of the mothers and children enjoyed a great day together with many more fun summer days to come!