Behind The Scenes
Pelotonia Kids Upper Arlington Hosts its Third Annual Kids Ride on July 6
By The Pelotonia Team|June 28, 2024
Coming up during July 4th weekend, the next Pelotonia Kids ride of 2024 is Pelotonia Kids Upper Arlington! This youth cycling event will take place on Saturday, July 6 at Jones Middle School in Upper Arlington for kids of all ages, featuring course options for Riders with varying experience levels to ride and fundraise.
Pelotonia Kids, is a series of kids cycling events to engage the next generation of Pelotonia Riders. In collaboration with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James), 100 percent of every Pelotonia Kids participant-raised dollar will be directed to innovative pediatric cancer research at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Each Pelotonia Kids ride is organized by Pelotonia community volunteers with assistance from Pelotonia through planning resources, equipment rentals, merchandise and promotional support. Events vary in participant ages, route distances and venue locations.
Pelotonia Kids Upper Arlington was one of original community kids rides organized as fundraisers by Pelotonia volunteers that inspired the creation of the Pelotonia Kids program launched in May. This Upper Arlington ride is organized by Sarah Jane Germain, longtime Pelotonia supporter, and Paul Germain, 11x Rider and captain of the Germain East Peloton. Their peloton team proudly surpassed the $1 million fundraising milestone in 2023, and shared that they have seen employee retention numbers triple for associates who actively engage in Pelotonia.
The idea of hosting a kids ride started in the Germain family’s backyard years ago. Leigh Germain was a passionate two--year old who adored the Pelotonia experience from watching her father and other adult family members participate. Leigh would often ask her parents to “play” Pelotonia, and the Germain family would set up a scooter course in their backyard, complete with a Pelotonia-style finish line. As she completed each ride, Leigh would have her parents put Paul’s Pelotonia Rider medal around her neck to celebrate each finish!
Around this time, Sarah Jane’s mother and Leigh’s grandmother, Joanie Dugger, was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for ovarian cancer. The Germain family had already been involved with Pelotonia prior to Joanie’s diagnosis in 2017, but got even more involved as the mission impacted them more personally. Joanie believed so deeply in Pelotonia, and she loved how much her granddaughter was already invested in the experience that was driving such a meaningful impact for survivors. Prior to her passing from cancer in 2019, Joanie had often suggested that Leigh’s birthday party theme should be Pelotonia. That idea ultimately planted the seed for Sarah Jane and Paul to start the kids ride in Upper Arlington.
Fast forward to 2022, and with support from the Pelotonia team, Pelotonia Kids in Upper Arlington held its first kids ride. In its first two years, there have been more than 450 youth participants and the event has raised over $40,000 for innovative cancer research!
Leigh is now a nine-year-old with two siblings, Lucy and Gordy, who join her as Pelotonia Kids participants in the Upper Arlington ride that she inspired as an enthusiastic, playful two-year-old. Their parents are very proud of the entire family’s involvement in the Pelotonia mission – from their youngest riders to their extended family – and that it’ll continue to expand in the community with the Pelotonia Kids program.
"When we started Pelotonia Kids, we hoped that one day the funds raised by kids would benefit kids, and this year, that becomes a reality.
We are thrilled about the partnership with Pelotonia and the OSUCCC--James, which enables all funds raised by Pelotonia Kids to benefit research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Cancer research today is undoubtedly going to have a tremendous impact on our children’s health in the future, and it’s incredibly special that the funds raised through Pelotonia Kids will benefit research for kids who are being impacted by cancer now."
-Sarah Jane Germain
The event on July 6th will consist of a various activities for community members of all ages. The morning will kick off at 9:00 am on the Jones Middle School track, where children under 5 are invited to ride bicycles, tricycles, scooters, or strollers around the track. Older children will then line up to ride on the street around the school that has been closed for the event. These big kids are encouraged to ride at their own comfort level around the street loop and for as long as they’d like, whether that is one lap or twenty!
Each Pelotonia Kids Upper Arlington participant is encouraged to fundraise through a pledge form, where donors can commit to a specific dollar amount per lap – which also helps them practice with goal-setting and tracking. Donations are also accepted at the event, which is free to register thanks to generous sponsors, with 100% of all dollars raised benefiting pediatric cancer research.
"Pelotonia is a uniquely wonderful experience, whether you’re a Rider or a spectator. Kids feel the positive energy as they watch their parents ride, and they really want to be a part of it, too. That’s why we created Pelotonia Kids. The Pelotonia leadership team is unbelievable, and we’ve been so fortunate to have their unwavering support and vision to grow Pelotonia Kids to expand participation for so many more kids and families."
-Sarah Jane Germain
Participants can register for Pelotonia Kids Upper Arlington at www.pelotoniakidsua.com.
Follow updates on the Pelotonia social media channels and @pelotoniakids on Instagram!
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