Southern Nuclear donates bikes to Boys & Girls Club
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - In the spirit of bringing communities and organizations together to cure cancer faster, Southern Nuclear is donating 10 new bicycles and helmets to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta.
Funds for the bicycles were provided by Southern Nuclear’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program.
Southern Nuclear built and gifted the bikes, allowing the kids to participate in the Paceline Race on October 15.
“A lot of people have asked me why, why is this important? It’s important, because if you can change one life, you know, you’ve done your job for a lifetime,” said Tom Jonscull, maintenance director of Units 3 and 4 at Southern Nuclear’s Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro.
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Volunteers from Southern Nuclear were building the bikes Thursday at the HUB for Community Innovation ahead of PaceDay.
“What a pleasure it is to be a part of this program,” said Scull.
The bikes are more than just a gift.
“If you can back the first time you rode a bike it, that was the first time you really were independent, right, and you can see the independence growing on their faces and the excitement,” he said.
The Boys and Girls club says it’s important to get them on the right track early.
“Our outcomes are to, you know, make sure that kids are academically sound, that they are good citizens and have good character, and they’re, you know, being active in community, and also living healthy lifestyle,” said Carlos Daniels, Vice President for Operations and Public Affairs for the Boys & Girls Club.
For kids who may be struggling in any aspect of life, they’re here to help.
“Especially with our older kids, with our teens, we’re really focusing in on, you know, workforce development and making sure that they have a plan for their future if not college, if not, the military didn’t, they’re learning a trade or skill that can take them to the next level,” said Daniels.
The next level for these kids is the race coming up next month.
Jim Vinyard, Vice President of Development for the Boys & Girls Club, said: “Most of them do not have bikes. So they’ll be doing a lot of practicing between now and Pace day. So they’re just very excited. This gives them the freedom to be the boys and girls that they need to be and freedom to ride around the neighborhoods and get great exercise.”
The need for organizations like this has never been greater.
“There’s a ton of kids that need these types of services. We’re happy to be providing services for over 4000 kids here in the CSRA,” said Daniels.
They make an impact hoping these kids will do the same one day.
“Maybe one day, they will be a community that will help others. So it’s one start that could be finished in the future that helps others,” said Jonscull.
The goal is to get more youths on bikes as a way to educate them about the power of exercise and movement, especially when it comes to health, wellness and cancer prevention.
Paceline and Southern Nuclear are issuing a challenge to local businesses to further underserved youth participation from Boys & Girls Clubs in this year’s PaceDay by helping cover their $250 per participant fundraising goal.
PaceDay is a bike ride that raises funds for the Georgia Cancer Center.
This year’s will be held Oct. 15.
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