Thanks to a collaborative community effort, 60 local underserved children from Kensho Dojo, a karate school in Lakewood, recently took home their very own bicycles and properly fitted helmets, along with tips on bicycle safety, as part of a Safe Kids NJ Helmet Fitting event held at The Center for Healthy Living at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus.

The event was made possible thanks to the effort of several organizations and businesses. Bob Goldschlag, lead instructor at Kensho Dojo, identified children who needed helmets and bicycles, and organized a community bicycle drive. Minor bicycle repairs were performed on-site at the event at no charge by Sean McGregor, owner of the Bicycle Hub of Marlboro and helmets were purchased with a grant from Safe Kids NJ and the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

At the start of the event, Joanna Boyd, a representative from the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, educated children and their parents on the importance of wearing a helmet, and how helmets can save lives. Then Boyd, along with Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus nurses and Emergency Department staff properly fitted each child with a new helmet.

Lakewood Mayor Menashe Miller, Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein and members of the Lakewood Police Department attended the event to show their support for bicycle safety and the overall event.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, only 48 percent of children ages 5-14 wear bicycle helmets. “We’re proud to partner with local community organizations and businesses to bring some joy to children and help keep children safe by educating children and their parents about the importance of helmet use and bicycle safety,” said Jean McKinney, regional director of Community Health Education, Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus.

PHOTO: Jennifer Lees, assistant director of Patient Services, MMCSC Emergency Department, helps properly fit children with new helmets.

[TLS – Press Release]